2006-11-08 03:37:58 · 25 answers · asked by djmonsta200883 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
humans followed a different evolutionary path from monkeys and apes. We didn't evolve from monkeys - monkeys, apes and humans evolved from the same ape like animal. We have since taken different paths, and both co-exist
2006-11-08 03:42:04 · answer #1 · answered by mr_wobbly2001 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Look for a picture of Tupaia the tree shrew. This is the type of mammal from which all primates are believed to have evolved. Populations of this type of small tree-living mammal split into different lineages which eventually became the primates of today. The earliest primate lineage to be formed was that containing bushbabies, lorises and the lemurs of Madagascar. Because Madagascar split off from mainland Africa before later primate lineages formed it has its own unique primate fauna which has specialised to the habitat.
Later on another split from the ancestral lineage of small mammals occurred and the New World Monkeys evolved - tamarins, marmosets etc.
Yet later another lineage of Old World monkeys was formed which subsequently split into the species we know today baboons, colobus monkeys, vervets etc.
The last group to evolve from this primate ancestor was the lineage of Great Apes. The oldest species are the gibbons and orang utan in Asia then the gorilla and most recently the split between humans and chimps. The two species of chimpanzee are more modern than humans.
So the modern primate groups are related by common ancestry but did not evolve from one another. This is exactly the same scenario as in any other animal order. If you look at the carnivores the cat family and dog family ultimately share a common ancestor in a group of ancient mammals but neither evolved from each other.
Why is anything still here? Species become adapted to their habitats and if they are successful they continue to survive. Humans are undoubtedly very adaptable but they have not yet taken to living in the canopies of the South American rainforests and competing with the monkeys there for the fruit and leaves on which they survive, although they might yet fell the whole lot and wipe out everything that lives there anyway.
2006-11-09 06:22:16 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Seriously, science is all about building on the work done by others, so would it kill you to have looked at one of the 8000 versions of this exact question that popped up when you started typing yours?
If you can't accept the answers that people have given, time and time again, can you please move on and ask your pointless questions elsewhere? There might be people here who *shock horror* are actually looking for genuine scientific discourse or information that doesn't get posted thousands of times a day on Y! Answers.
Take a deep breath and read it out loud:
Modern humans are not descended from modern apes and monkeys. All primates living today share a common ancestor many millions of years in their past. We are more closely related to some types (like apes) than others (like lemurs), ie. we share a more recent common ancestor.
Lots of different types of primates exist today because evolution acts to preserve changes that make organisms more suited to exploit a particular ecological niche. Each species of primate existing today is the best organism at exploiting the niche that it inhabits. If that niche ceases to exist or another species begins to exploit it more effectively, then the original species will become extinct if they cannot adapt fast enough (eg. other apes not being able to respond to habitat destruction effectively.)
2006-11-09 15:49:27 · answer #3 · answered by lauriekins 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Humans are a member of the great ape family and evolved from a common ancestor with chimpanzees, which are also apes. Humans absolutely did not evolve from the apes that are still living today. The apes, chimps and monkeys still living today all share a monkey-like common ancestor with humans, but humans did not evolve from the monkeys living today.
2006-11-08 11:40:54 · answer #4 · answered by mg 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
The last time I answer this exact same question I stated I was getting fed up because these were turning up about once a month... that was last week.. god help us!
HUMANS DID NOT EVOLVE FROM MONKEYS AND APES WE SHARE A COMMAN ANCESTOR THAT IS NO LONGER AROUND. MONKEYS AND APES STILL INHABIT THE EARTH BECAUSE THEY FILL A NATURAL NICHE IN WHICH THEY CAN SURVIVE.
2006-11-09 06:55:39 · answer #5 · answered by blue_cabbage 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Humans did not evolve from apes and monkeys. Humans and other primates evolved from a common ancestor. That is to say, current chimps and current humans came from the same place, but humans are not the next step up evolutionarily from chimps.
2006-11-08 11:49:04 · answer #6 · answered by pdigoe 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
We did not evolve from Apes or Monkeys - that is a very common misconception, I think deliberately promoted by theists and creationists as a 'straw man' ploy.
We share common ancestry with other primates. The ape-like ancestor of modern humans was also the man-like ancestor of modern apes!
98% chimp and proud of it!
2006-11-08 11:48:17 · answer #7 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Choose one of the following:
a) If you were born from your parents, why are they still here?
b) Humans did not evolve from apes and monkey. Humans and apes both evolved from a human-apelike ancestor
c) Even if humans did evolve directly from apes, it does not imply the entire ape species is changed. A geographically seperated species can evolve, leaving the original species untouched.
2006-11-08 11:43:55 · answer #8 · answered by Michael 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Early human like apes came from an original ancestor..depending on location and climate they evolved into several species of early man..some died out....following the survival of the fittest design...the more intelligent branch's of ape/man..evolved into the various ethnic diversity we see today...all this can be genetically proven using DNA x
2006-11-08 11:48:42 · answer #9 · answered by tee_hee_ssh 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Chas_chas above is unfortunately parroting lies told to him by creationist sites. For one thing, there is no easily defined measure of "information" in this context. If you disagree, tell me how to measure it?
Secondly, there is no such thing as "devolution", as evolution does not have a direction.
Thirdly, it is incredibly easy to add stuff into the genome. One of the common types of mutation is a duplication - where one gene is duplicated. The organism now has two copies of a gene - one which carries on doing the original function, and one which is free to mutate further to start doing a brand new function. Scientists have actually seen this happening - the best example is the bacteria which evolved the ability to digest nylon within the last 50 years.
2006-11-09 04:43:41 · answer #10 · answered by Daniel R 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋