2007-02-06 14:47:55 · 27 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
By primate, I'm going to assume that you mean ape.
I could go ahead and say "no, the genetics are too different," but that doesn't really explain anything.
Apes have 48 chromosomes and humans have 46 chromosomes in the somatic cell. This means that apes have 24 chromosomes and humans have 23 chromosomes in the sex cells. They cannot combine, because there would be one extra. Humans and apes cannot have a child together.
There are instances in which two seperate species have made offspring. A donkey and a horse can mate, and the product would be a mule. Mules make such good workers because it is sterile. This means that it cannot make offspring of it's own. Every mule is the product of a horse and a donkey making love stains in the back of the barn. No mule has a mommy mule and a daddy mule.
The same is true for a tiger and a lion. No, Napoleon Dynamite was not lying when he proposed the concept of a liger. A liger, or a tiggon is a real thing. Once again, this creature is sterile.
2007-02-06 17:34:33 · answer #1 · answered by Robin T 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Humans fall within the definition of primates and therefore all human children are the result of humans and primates producing offspring.
I think the intent of your question was to ask if humans could produce offspring with other non-human primates. The answer is no, as many have pointed out. We are simply too genetically different from our simian cousins.
There are instances where two different, yet closely related species, can produce offspring such as a male donkey being bred with a female horse to produce a mule (or perhaps it's the other way around; mule + horse = donkey; I can't recall for sure). In this instance, and I believe in all other known cross breedings, the resulting offspring is sterile.
2007-02-06 15:07:28 · answer #2 · answered by Greg H 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, since humans ARE primates...yes. I can have a baby with another human being, therefore...I can have a child with a primate. Now...another species of primate...no, even though I think I've met some people who are more 'primative' than others! ;0)
2007-02-06 14:50:24 · answer #3 · answered by Lisa E 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of course they can...humans are primates. If you are asking if humans can have offsring with primates outside of thier own species, the answer is no. Both physical ( I mean between the sperm and egg) and genetic differences will not allow this.
2007-02-06 15:16:40 · answer #4 · answered by Dennis C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If by primate you mean chimps, gorillas, etc. then no. The genetic material, although very similar, is too different and would not be able to match up in the fertilization process.
2007-02-06 15:12:14 · answer #5 · answered by stu12019 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans are primates
2007-02-06 14:51:03 · answer #6 · answered by Laughing Libra 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. Humans belong in their own genus. You cannot mate very many animals across genus lines. Horses / Asses / Zebras are a unique situation.
2007-02-06 14:59:16 · answer #7 · answered by Christina 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The small genetic differences that make different species different also prevent interspecial mating. Nature is funny that way.
2007-02-06 14:51:48 · answer #8 · answered by ♫ giD∑■η ♫ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
king kong dong and rube red lips makes little bitty chimps , sound like a side show for me
2007-02-06 15:02:41 · answer #9 · answered by HEY boo boo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because the DNA wont match
2007-02-06 14:52:18 · answer #10 · answered by zombiebreath 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋