© Dannyphoto80 | DreamstimeHumans received the species name, Homo sapiens, meaning "wise man," in 1758. But given our short-sighted behavior, that name needs to be changed, one writer proposes.
For about 250 years, our species has been known as
Homo sapiens, a scientific name in Latin that means "wise man."
Given the havoc humans are wreaking on natural systems, putting ourselves and so many other living things in peril, we don't deserve this name, contends Julian Cribb, an Australian science writer and book author. In a letter published in the Aug. 18 issue of the journal
Nature, Cribb makes a proposal.
"Changing our species name might risk infringing some of the
hallowed rules of nomenclature, but it would send an important signal about our present collective behavior," he writes.
Cribb has no suggestion for a new name, "because I want humanity at large to discuss this issue - not just scientists," he said in an email to LiveScience.com.
Meanwhile, some scientists have a name for Cribb's suggestion. They call it silly.
"It's not a matter of changing names, it is a matter of changing actions," said Ken Caldeira, a climate scientist with the Carnegie Institution of Washington.
Comment: From wikipedia:
The U.S. NHANES (1999--2004) national probability sample found that 10.8% of U.S. persons 6--49 years of age, and 11.0% of women 15--44 years of age, had /Toxoplasma/-specific IgG antibodies, indicating that they were infected with the organism.
It is estimated that between 30% and 65% of all people worldwide are infected with toxoplasmosis. However, there is large variation between countries: in France, for example, around 88% of the population are carriers, probably due to a high consumption of raw and lightly cooked meat. Germany, the Netherlands and Brazil also have high prevalences of around 68%, over 80% and 67% respectively.
In Britain about 22% are carriers, and South Korea's rate is 4.3%.
See also:
The Return of the Puppet Masters
Research supports toxoplasmosis link to schizophrenia
Toxoplasmosis infection trick revealed by scientists
Toxoplasmosis found more severe in Brazil compared to Europe
Toxoplasmosis Parasite May Trigger Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorders
A curious clue? Women infected with toxoplasmosis are more likely to have boys
Toxo: A Conversation with Robert Sapolsky about Toxoplasmosis