2006-07-06 05:33:30 · 17 answers · asked by ? 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Many great answers, really. But do not think of me to be a pervert. I am wondering what evidence that the evolution crowd have that we come from the primate family. If we cannot bring froth children with it, we cannot be a part of it.
2006-07-06 10:42:14 · update #1
No. Humans are related to apes in so far as both species are primates. However, apes and humans are different species. One of the key factors in the definition of a species is whether the two individuals can mate. Humans and Apes cannot mate. There is a hierarchy or taxonomic relations (kingdom, phylum, class, order, family genus, species.) In one way, all animals are related because they are all in the kingdom anamailia. However, when one says that animals are related (or plants for that matter) they typically meant that they are in the same kingdom, phylum, class, and order. Family and Genus may or may not be the same.
2006-07-06 05:38:36 · answer #1 · answered by jg 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It's not just alleged that humans are genetically related to apes; it is scientifically proven. Modern primates and humans have evolved from the same species, but humans and apes are different species. The definition of a species is that it is reproductively isolated from other species. Since humans are not the same species as apes, it is impossible for a human to have even non-viable children with apes. The genes just can't work together, no matter how closely related they are.
For example, mules are the offspring of two different species, a horse and a donkey. But mules are not viable, or cannot have offspring, so this cross of species, no matter how close it is, doesn't really work because the genetic mix cannot be passed on through the offspring. Humans and apes are slightly less related than horses and donkeys, so there couldn't even be a cross between them.
2006-07-06 14:01:31 · answer #2 · answered by suedegirl91 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, our hominid lineage split from the chimps (our closest relatives) enough time ago (an estimated 6.3 million years, or maybe less, see my first reference) that there are many incompatibilities that make successful hybridization practically impossible. For instance, our closest relatives, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans, have one more pair of chromosomes (2n=48). Different chromosomal number does not usually lead to successful hybrids.
And it's not "alleged", we _are_ apes.
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Update: I really don't understand what your question really is. Are you saying that if the members of a species cannot breed successfully with members of other related species, they are _not_ related? Species that are grouped by systematists in the same genus, family, order, etc, are not usually interfertile. That has nothing to do with the fact that they are indeed related.
In current systematics, natural groups (i.e. groups formed by taxa that are phylogenetically related = evolutively, ancestor-descendant- related) are supported by shared derived characters, that is, synapomorphies. Thus, humans share the synapomorphies general to all primates, plus the ones for nested nodes (Haplorhini, Anthropoidea, Hominoidea, Hominidae)
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Hominidae.html
http://www.palaeos.com/Vertebrates/Units/480Archonta/480.500.html#Hominoidea
So if Homo sapiens cannot breed with dogs, does that mean that we're not mammals?
If you want to believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible, and thus in a fundamental separation of man, don't waste your time trying to find reasons to dismiss or negate the relationships between our species and other living beings. Just believe and be happy.
2006-07-06 14:18:31 · answer #3 · answered by Calimecita 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it has been said that it is possible and some do believe that there were experiments where this was done carried to term and then terminated the scientific term is a humanzee just like the liger -half tiger half lion the thing is they are usually born a sexual like a donkey and a horse make a muel and mules cannot reproduce so naturally could this happen? no can humans make one absolutely google the humanzee
2006-07-06 14:41:18 · answer #4 · answered by dikhed 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are slightly disturbing, Meredith, but hey-to each his own. Any-hoo, I don't really think so. Just because they have 98-99% smiliarities in their genetic makeup with us doesn't mean we can mate and have baby' missing links', though maybe this is from a lack of effort on our part to answer this scientifically. My Personal Opinion: No.
2006-07-06 12:41:46 · answer #5 · answered by teejay_mc 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Obviously you have been asleep during most of whatever education that you have gotten, especially biology. The answer is no. How embarrassing for you really. Scarey even.
2006-07-06 12:37:43 · answer #6 · answered by Island Queen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Enough time and development seperates us biologically. You can't defeat the science by offering faulty logic. Try again, Agenda man.
2006-07-06 12:39:57 · answer #7 · answered by Miss Red 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, although we are closely related, 98%, we still cant interbreed, not to mention do you know how hard it would be to capture a gorilla, hold it down and screw it? lol. its kinda like trying to mix a kodiake bear and a black bear, they are closely related but not the same.
2006-07-06 23:45:00 · answer #8 · answered by sugerfreektj 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. A major distinction between "species" is that they can no longer inter-breed. If we could, we wouldn't be separate species.
2006-07-08 23:05:47 · answer #9 · answered by chamrajnagar3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not possible because we are to distantly related. We would have to be in the same genus.
2006-07-06 22:00:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋