2006-11-19 04:30:16 · 16 answers · asked by tdakpj 3 in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
Sigh... humans did NOT evolve from apes. This is a common misconception, frequently played upon by Creationists. If humans evolved FROM apes then naturally there would be no apes. Humans and apes share a common ancestor which shared some of the characteristics of both humans and apes. Humans and apes are both equally "evolved" because we both still exist and are both adapted to our present environments and circumstances (we can't say humans are more "evolved" than apes because both live and survive perfectly well in the present day).
It is currently estimated that about 7 million years ago one population of this common ancestor underwent a mutational change which produced two similar but different species - one went on to evolve into modern apes and the other went on to evolve into humans.
The common ancestor of both humans and apes in turn evolved from earlier creatures which in some ways ressembled today's lemurs and bushbabys. These in turn evolved from earlier mammals which evolved from mammal-like reptiles. Mammal-like reptiles evolved from amphibians which evolved from fish which evolved from primitive vertebrates which evolved from the chordate reporductive stage of a creature similar to present day sea squirts which in turn had evolved from many simpler forms of animals going right back to the first single-celled living things.
It is currently estimated that the number of mutational changes that have taken us from the first singled-celled living things to present-day humans is only about 40. That's just 40 major changes that separate us from the first living things.
2006-11-19 04:32:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
Man and apes share a common lineage, which is different than saying that man evolved from apes. Several million years ago, the line that was to evolve into the great apes separated from that of man's and each line went along their separate evolutionary ways.
2006-11-19 07:15:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
there is a school of thought that some 250,000-270,000 years ago, the evolution process took an unnatural jump forward and is it is suggested that genetic manipulation occurred in our species. the sudden appearance of a superior race could not have happened in the time frame or pace of natural evolution, so you could say we really didn't evolve from apes but rather are a product of special creation. thus the missing link will never be found because there is none. apes on the other hand have evolved from the sea and continue to evolve at natures own pace.
2006-11-19 05:59:51 · answer #3 · answered by Robert P 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
apes evolved from small mamals who lived under ground during the dinasour years. They rarely visited topside to avoid preditors.
After the gaint astroid killed off the dinasours these fury litle creatures spread all over the earth and dominated it.
From these small mamals came the larger apes, monkeys, chimps form which we humans evolved.
2006-11-19 04:36:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
if your questioning alongside the lines of the extraterrestrial beings on celebrity trek who look like human variations of alternative animals then the easy reason is the word is "sort follows function" A human sort could be ineffective for a fish or a crocodile. And having 2 palms and legs and a hairless physique are no longer standards for transforming into clever. Whales, Dolphins, Elephants, Octopus's, Raves/Crows and gray parrots all have demonstrable intelligence and undertaking fixing skills yet are easily no longer "Humanoid"
2016-12-29 05:27:38 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, we evolved from apes. Some even categorize us with apes. Apes evolved from monkeys, monkeys from lemurs, lemurs from smaller primates and on and on to fish and microscopic organisms.
2006-11-19 16:50:13 · answer #6 · answered by Mr. Bodhisattva 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually there is a common misconception about evolution. It doesn't mean that we are getting superior. The next generation of "species" are more adapted to survive the current generation of what is producing them. Also evolution takes a long time you will only see gradual changes not sudden changes like the "missing link."
2006-11-19 06:59:17 · answer #7 · answered by sfparadox 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Human life did not evolve from apes. God made man! And apes were included with all the other animals God made to inhabit the earth. When will they ever learn????
2006-11-19 17:00:09 · answer #8 · answered by marsha 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
omg if anyone believes that we evolved from apes!? come on be serious.
2006-11-19 13:21:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
you can follow the trail back to the single celled organisms, but more close to the apes would be the dinosaurs.
2006-11-20 04:48:57 · answer #10 · answered by Nate 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋