Creation Research Database

Taxon Sample Size in Hominin Baraminology: A Response to O'Micks

Wood, Todd Charles (2016) Taxon Sample Size in Hominin Baraminology: A Response to O'Micks. Answers Research Journal, 9: 23. pp. 369-372. ISSN 1937-9056

Abstract

In a recent paper, O'Micks analyzed the cranial and postcranial characters for six hominin taxa and concluded that the recently discovered Homo naledi was "probably not part of the human holobaramin." Consideration of postcranial characters is desirable in baraminology; however, previous studies of hominins have shown that reducing the taxon sample size can result in spurious baraminic distance correlations not seen in larger taxon samples. Re-analysis of O'Micks' character sets show that the lack of baraminic distance correlations is likely the result of a small taxon sample. Therefore, excluding Homo naledi from the human holobaramin is an unwarranted conclusion from O'Micks' results.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: Q Science (General) > QH Natural History. Biology > QH102 Baraminology. Biosystematics
G Geography and Anthropology > GN Anthropology > GN281 Human Evolution. Hominid Fossils
Depositing User: Admin
Date Deposited: 04 Sep 2026 23:45
Last Modified: 04 Sep 2026 23:45
URI: https://crsq.creationresearch.org/id/eprint/1769

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