2006-08-25 00:10:18 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
We didn't evolve from monkeys. Monkeys and apes evolved seperately. Humans are another species of ape, such as chimps and gorillas. We just happen to be a higher order of ape who evolved differently because of climate, environment, and natural selection.
2006-08-28 11:41:02 · answer #1 · answered by brainzrgood4u 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because monkeys fill a niche, and didn't need to evolve in the same direction to survive and prosper. If monkey population A lives seperate from monkey population B (meaning that there is a sea, desert or mountain range between them and they cannot breed with each other), and the environment in each region is different (such as one region is a jungle and the other region is a savannah), chances are the two populations will become different as well, and eventually become different species. It's called "speciation." Take a look at the link for the details.
2006-08-25 13:22:08 · answer #2 · answered by Al 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The NAS publication actually answers your question directly in its Appendix of Frequently Asked Questions. It says:
"Humans did not evolve from modern apes, but humans and modern apes shared a common ancestor, a species that no longer exists. Because we share a recent common ancestor with chimpanzees and gorillas, we have many anatomical, genetic, biochemical, and even behavioral similarities with these African great apes. We are less similar to the Asian apes orangutans and gibbons and even less similar to monkeys, because we share common ancestors with these groups in the more distant past.
"Evolution is a branching or splitting process in which populations split off from one another and gradually become different. As the two groups become isolated from each other, they stop sharing genes, and eventually genetic differences increase until members of the groups can no longer interbreed. At this point, they have become separate species. Through time, these two species might give rise to new species, and so on through millennia."
In other words, the "ape-like" animals that eventually gave rise to humans split up into several branches, all of which evolved in different directions. Some of those lines became become extinct; others survived. One of the surviving groups includes you and me (and in theory P.E. teachers, although one wonders). Other survivors include the various species of monkeys and apes we find today.
Incidentally, you can find the NAS publication on the web at http://books.nap.edu/html/creationism/. Lots of good info in there!
2006-08-26 12:31:38 · answer #3 · answered by ? 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably because my wife keeps giving birth to them. In just the last few years she's had enough monkeys to fill a small jungle.I suspect she's not the only one doing this. There are most likely women like her all over the world.
It must be that monkeys come from us and we come from monkeys. Sort of like the chicken and the egg.
2006-08-25 07:24:43 · answer #4 · answered by beast 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why do you still have different varieties of birds. Why do you still have a multitude of different monkeys in the world? Why do you have a multitude of different humans? You have white ones, black ones, yellow ones, short ones, tall ones, and most recently discovered ones that still walk on all fours to get around. That's right a group in Turkey that hasn't quite made it out the the transition from monkey to man or as some believe are going backwards. Look it up if you don't believe me.
2006-08-25 11:40:44 · answer #5 · answered by Plantoneonme 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Man didn't evolve from monkeys... Man and monkeys share common ancestors.
2006-08-25 07:16:22 · answer #6 · answered by gcbtrading 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
We evolved from a common ancestor, monkeys took a different path.
2006-08-25 12:54:24 · answer #7 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When the evolution took place, most of them made it, some of the monkeys either decided to stay monkeys or were too slow to change over (something like they didn't make it to the time machine)
2006-08-25 07:17:18 · answer #8 · answered by Batman Simon 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
ya know, that is a funny question
like...are monkeys our brothers?
should we give monkeys equal human rights?
with all of the experiments on monkeys and the different ways we use monkeys, are monkeys our slaves?
its a good question....i wish i had a good answer....i do believe in evolution, but i am not so sure one of my ancestors is a monkey, that's crazy!
2006-08-25 07:16:27 · answer #9 · answered by Cap'n Donna 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I saw I programme on this the other day.
In humans there are variations between all of us. Some have diseases unfortunately.
It all relies on the inheritence of genes from our parents. Some may be mutated or defected.
I cannot remeber the exact name of this group of people but in india there is a large group of people with small heads.
The faulty gene that causes this has a similar gene that is in the monkey that causes them to both act the same.
Kelly xo.
2006-08-25 07:17:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋