In our case, finding a Lucy is unique. No one will ever find another Lucy. You can't order one from a biological supply house. It's a unique discovery, a unique specimen. Donald Johanson biologicalcasediscovery Change image and share on social
You don't just magically flip some evolutionary switch somewhere and transmute a quadruped into an upright-walking bipedal human. Donald Johanson bipedalevolutionaryflip Change image and share on social
I was being groomed as an undergraduate to specialize in Midwestern prehistory, but going back to my teenage days, my interest has always been in our early human ancestors. I wanted to work in Africa. Donald Johanson africaancestorback Change image and share on social
I was aware of it, but I grew up in a very a-religious family. My mother never went to church, she never had any religious training or background. It was never a part of our social interaction. Donald Johanson awarebackgroundchurch Change image and share on social
Lucy brought with her an image of our human ancestors that you don't get when you find a jaw or an arm bone or a leg bone. Here was 40 percent of a single skeleton. Donald Johanson ancestorarmbone Change image and share on social
It's very hard for all of us, when we've committed ourselves to a particular interpretation, to change our minds. Donald Johanson changecommithard Change image and share on social
Regardless of what we look like on the outside, genetically, on the inside, everyone is an African. Donald Johanson africangeneticallyinside Change image and share on social
Evolution explains our biological evolution, but human beings are very unique creatures. As the Dobzhansky said, all animals are unique; humans are the uniquest. And that uniqueness of being human, language, art, culture, our dependency on culture for survival, comes from the combination of traditional biological evolution. Donald Johanson animalartbeing share on social
When I realized, in 1978, that Lucy did represent a new species of human ancestor, and that I had an opportunity to name this new species, I realized this was a revolutionary step in understanding human origins. Donald Johanson ancestorhumanlucy share on social
We are placed in the genus of Homo, which is Latin for man - Homo sapiens: supposedly wise men. I sometimes think - wonder - whether we really are wise men. Donald Johanson genuhomolatin Change image and share on social