‘Man’-hunt for ‘Adam’

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A pair of scientific studies using the latest genetic evidence are seeking to identify the very first man to walk the Earth, the so-called "Adam."

The studies delve into phylogenetics, a forensic hunt through the Xs and Ys of our chromosomes to find the genetic Adam, to borrow the name from the Bible. And Eran Elhaik from the University of Sheffield says he knows exactly when that first man lived.

"We can say with some certainty that modern humans emerged in Africa a little over 200,000 years ago," Elhaik said in a press release. That directly contradicts a March 2013 studyfrom Arizona Research Labs at the University of Arizona, which found that the human Y chromosome (the hereditary factor determining male sex) originated through interbreeding among species and dates back even further than 200 millennia.

"Our analysis indicates this lineage diverged from previously known Y chromosomes about 338,000 years ago, a time when anatomically modern humans had not yet evolved," said Michael Hammer, an associate professor in the University of Arizona's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Elhaik published a paper in the January 2014 issue of the European Journal of Human Genetics on his work; he used the opportunity to take a swipe at Hammer's paper, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

"We have shown that the University of Arizona study lacks any scientific merit," Elhaik claimed. "In fact, their hypothesis creates a sort of 'space-time paradox' whereby the most ancient individual belonging to the Homo sapiens species has not yet been born."

Think of the Michael J. Fox film, Back to the Future. Marty was worried that his parents would not meet and so he would not be born in the future. "It's the same idea," Elhaik said.

Hammer told FoxNews.com he stands by his work.

The paper by Elhaik and colleagues does not present a convincing argument against our paper and unfortunately at times appears to display a lack of technical understanding of the subject area. We are in the process of submitting a rebuttal," he said.

Identifying the very first Y chromosome of a genetic Adam would not mean scientists had located the Biblical figure Adam, explained Werner Arber, the Vaticans top scientist, told FoxNews.com.

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'Man'-hunt for 'Adam'

Canada’s public health care future in jeopardy

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The future of public health care in Canada is in serious jeopardy. A health care crisis is looming because of decisions being made by the federal government. Unfortunately, this looming crisis is flying below the radar. Few seem to pay attention to what will bring an end to public health care as we know it today.

In a world where we seem to be moving from one crisis to the next, it seems the public has become desensitized to issues that are not affecting them in the here and now. Decisions being made today will lead to a gradual deterioration of Canadas public health care system. If the Canadian public allows the federal government to continue on its current path our health care system will become vulnerable to things like for-profit medical services or a multi-tiered health system this is defined by a persons ability to pay.

Canada is facing an important next step in our medicare history. In 2014, the current health care accord deal that sets funding and health care service delivery agreements between the federal and provincial and territorial governments expires and must be renegotiated. The federal government is ignoring the calls of the provinces and territories to work on a deal, and shockingly announced $36 billion worth of health care cuts which will come into effect after the next federal election in 2015. The provinces and territories will thus be forced to reduce health services, increase taxes, and/or privatize services; health care will vary widely across the country.

In December 2011, the federal government unilaterally announced a withdrawal from anything but a reduced financing role: in 2017 the transfer of health care funds will be cut from the current annual six per cent increase to a percentage pegged to the GDP, with a guarantee base of three per cent.

This is a time of an aging population and an increasing demand for health care services; unless transfer funding is stable and certain our cherished public health care system is in danger. Unless a new health accord is re-negotiated to establish community health centres and to include universal home and palliative care, health services cost will continue to skyrocket; and elderly Canadians will continue to suffer, facing the end of their lives in unfamiliar environments while society pays billions for their care.

More than 94 per cent of Canadians believe health care is a core social right, a symbol of Canada as a compassionate and caring society. Canadians want governments to work together to share information about how to best deliver public heath care and to ensure that every Canadian has equal access to quality care provide by a national, public system. The federal, provincial, and territorial governments need to negotiate a new health accord that protects and strengthens our universal public health care system. Our elected representatives need to advocate for a new accord and stop the federal government from undermining our health care system by refusing to come back to the bargaining table. Each of us needs to stand up and demand the federal government negotiate with the premiers to ensure every Canadian has access to quality health care services as needed.

Rennie Maierle

Burnaby

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Canada’s public health care future in jeopardy

Refugee health-care cuts challenged in court

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TORONTO - Ottawa's cutbacks to health-care coverage for refugee claimants may leave some of them dependent on the charity of provincial officials, a judge said Thursday.

Justice Anne Mactavish raised the issue on the last day of a legal challenge launched by Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers.

The groups argue the changes announced 18 months ago are unlawful and inhumane, and want the court to strike them down.

Government lawyers say the new rules bring health benefits for newcomers in line with what other Canadians receive, and deter those who would abuse Canada's health-care system.

They have argued refugee claimants can still access health care through other programs, including those put in place by some provinces to reinstate access to essential and emergency care.

But though Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario have all taken steps to bridge the gap, not all offer the same level of coverage.

While Ontario has put forth a "coherent program," Mactavish said, Quebec offers assistance on an ad-hoc basis, which can leave refugee claimants dependent on the "whims" and "charity" of officials.

"Is that filling the gap?" the judge asked. And "is it humane to put people through that?"

Neeta Logsetty, one of the government lawyers, said many refugee claimants had also received donations from pharmaceutical companies and help from doctors, as well as provincial assistance.

Of those involved in the court case, "everyone got the treatment they required, at little or no cost," she told the judge.

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Refugee health-care cuts challenged in court