if apes evolved into humans does that mean that theoretically speaking in the future other animals cud evolve?

Question

Ok i was just reading a question about how the ape or monkey(cant remember which) evolved into humans,so does that mean that it is possible that other animals could in the future evolve into other,more sophisticated forms?

Answer 1

Humans didn't evolve from apes. Apes and humans shared a common ancestor about 3million years ago, at which point apes and humans followed different paths of evolution and development and became distinct species. Humans and chimps differ by just 1.6% of their DNA, which is less than chimps differ from gorillas or orangutans!

Of course evolution is possible. The occasional bipedalism (two legged swagger, or John-Wayne walk as my lecturer proudly calls it!) that chimps possess suggests they will soon evolve further, perhaps becoming two legged upright animals like ourselves. In order for this to happen their pelvises must change angle to make this more comfortable, but then childbirth may become as dififcult as it is for us.

In order to survive everything must constantly adapt to its changing environment, and indeed, the environment to us. It's all very complex, and takes millions of years, but there is some evidence of it happening e.g. human stages - from neanderthal, to home erectus, to homo sapien (with many others between!)

I'll stop now, because I'm fascinated by evolution and I'll waffle on indefinitely if I don't apply the brakes somewhere, but yeah, I believe everything will evolve. Humans may evolve too! Start looking at people with special needs or differences e.g Aspergers Syndrome in a whole new light - that could be the future!

Answer 2

While there was probably a common ancestor between humans and apes (and chimps may be closer cousins than we might find comfortable, a new theory suggests), humans did not evolve from "apes", per se. Rather, humans and apes both evolved from some earlier ancestor that had a lot in common with us both. The apes evolved to take advantage of a real pleasant environment where all the food they needed was at their unopposable fingertips, while humans evolved to survive the comparatively hostile plains, where we had to steal, kill or compound our food.
But to your question ... all animals are evolving. The pace of their evolution depends on the stress their environment places on them. Too great a stress, and they will die off and become "extinct" (which is the normal fate of failed genetic experiments). But if they can make the right adaptations, they will flourish and multiply.
Some, like the shark and the cockroach, got it pretty nearly spot on a long time ago. Others, like birds, chose a far more difficult path and are still making improvements millions of years after they first appeared.
It is not clear whether humans are evolving, or merely speciating (such as we do with dogs), and it is not clear whether the changes are for the better or the worse.
But, short answer, yes, other animals will evolve into different forms to better suit their environment. Whether that will be more sophisticated, or just larger or smaller, or with a harder shell, or able to breath CO2, or what ... is for the future to reveal.

Answer 3

Yeah, theoretically IF apes ivolved into human then other animals could evolve into more sophisticated forms of life. Personally, I'm a creationist. I believe the Bible's truth- that humans were created out of dust about 5 or 6 thousand years ago, and they were the same then as they are now. But if you believe in the evolution of species, then yes, animals could evolve today.

Answer 4

Technically speaking, according to evolutionary theory apes did not evolve into humans, but humans apes and humans evolved from a common ancestor. But getting back to your inquiry, evolution is a very slow but constant dynamic process active in all life to varying degrees. Presumably, progress would be more rapid in the case of a challenge to a species survival such as rapid environmental change. For example: a comet landing on the Yucatan and making it tough for a self respecting dinosaur to make a living by blasting away most of its food, but making it possible for smaller, more adaptable mammals to flourish. Conversely, well adapted organisms like sharks have needed to change very little over the millennia since they've managed to be able to chomp up whatever has come along quite well. There have been a few examples of new species showing up, but by and large it takes thousands of years to see any noticeable change, but the change born of this pressure goes both ways, to more complex as well as simpler forms.

Answer 5

Pretty much, though animals are evolving all the time. Even humans are evolving at the moment - just look at the X Men! Ha ha.

Answer 6

All animals, from the simplest unicellar organism to the most complex mammal, will respond to environmental stimulus in order to have the best chance at survival. So, yes, animals will continue to evolve. Except for humans, though. I believe we've evolved - phyiscally at least - as far as we can.

Answer 7

Considering our most common activities and tasks today...maybe the future human being will have a large head, little or no hair. A very small chin and very weak or less teeth and hardly any lips at all. Our skin will be very light and sensitive to sunlight. Our fingers will probably be strong and our fingertips round and larger (computers and buttons), our legs will probably be thiner, weaker and shorter (we walk less), our eyes may probably be large and prepared for absorbing a lot of light. Our noses will be replaced by a pair of small holes. We will probably be hermaphrodite. Hey, does this sound like an alien as depicted in movies?? interesting isn't it???

Answer 8

Natural selection says the mutations which give the advantage in that locality will thrive. A giraffe and a tiny field mouse and a hippo and a cat and a rhino and us all have the same number of neck vertebrae. And some weirdos on here dispute evolution! That's it for us though. Modern life means we don't push our bodies in search of food as we did. We use technology for all the hard and dirty stuff, or do you hunt your own dinner?

Answer 9

Yes. Some animal are already evolving.

Answer 10

Other animals have evolved into more sophisticated forms.