Find the woman who has half-transformed between human and ape

The evolutionary breakthrough that sets humans apart from other apes has been found in the body of Issa, a 2 million-year-old woman.

Science Alert quoted paleontologist Lee Berger from the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), a member of the research team: "Issa walks like a human but can climb like an ape."

The lineage of a woman named Issa - the Southern ape - was one of the first to begin to take on human features with a number of precious fossils ever unearthed. In it, Issa's skeleton analysis brought back the last missing pieces of how the spine and other parts of the skeleton began to transform to become fully human.

Graphic image simulating the portrait of the woman Issa - (Photo: Elisabeth Daynes/S.Entressangle).

Issa was found in Malapa, South Africa, with fossils including lumbar vertebrae. "The lumbar vertebrae are extremely rare in the hominin fossil record," explained evolutionary morphologist Scott Williams from New York University (USA), a member of the research team, explained.

In addition, the fossil also includes an important part of the knee area, which the angle of the femur connecting the knee shows Issa upright. Partial reconstruction of the spine with micro-CT scans confirms Issa's species has an inward curve in the lumbar spine like ours, which is also the clearest evidence of upright standing.

However, other characteristics show that Issa is still a good climber like an ape.

Issa's fossil remains consist of only a few parts, but include significant parts that show her as an upright person - (Image: New York University/University of the Witwatersrand).

Before that, Homo erectus, an extinct ancient human species, appeared on Earth about 1.8-2 million years ago was nicknamed "upright man" because it was the first species confirmed to move by walking. walking like us and almost giving up the habit of climbing, hands began to become proficient in using tools. But what evolutionary steps made Homo erectus remain a mystery.

Issa could be the answer. Her southern ape-man family has a history of millions of years with somewhat different individuals, evolving through each period. And it is clear that the ability to stand upright was developed in later Southern hominids like Issa, an important step for them to become truly human.

In addition, the authors say understanding the evolution of the lower back will greatly help medicine in preventing injury and maintaining a healthy back, because this is one of the most vulnerable areas. trauma and pain on the human body.