Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 25. X-ray of the skull of an LS patient (A) compared with a CT image
of LB1's skull (B). The image for the LS patient has been enhanced with image
adjustments for shadow and highlights, which reveal that the chin is not
underdeveloped as claimed (Hershkovitz, Kornreich, and Laron 2008). Notice
that the shapes and thicknesses of the two braincases differ dramatically, as
do the sizes and configurations of the jaws and teeth. Created by Kirk Smith,
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology; reproduced from Falk, Hildebolt, et al.,
“Nonpathological asymmetry,” 2009.
LS patients below the neck. We found no evidence in the traditional
clinical literature that supports the assertions that skeletons of patients
with LS manifest the shape features of LB1's collar bones, shoulders,
arms, hips, or legs. Nor were LB1's long bones delicate or her hands and
feet small. In fact, LB1's little legs ended in amazingly long feet.
Clearly, Hobbit had not suffered from Laron syndrome. However, the
suggestion that she had was explicit and had testable components, which
is how science ultimately progresses. We concluded our paper with a call
for more testable hypotheses: “We understand the cognitive dissonance
that the discovery of
Homo floresiensis
has created in some scientific cir-
cles, and we encourage efforts to frame testable, alternative hypotheses
long to continue our newfound research interest in clinical pathologies,
because another sick-Hobbit hypothesis was already on the horizon!
