Question about evolution...?

Question

If we evolved from apes/monkey's/primates, how come monkeys, etc. are still present on earth? (I'm not trying to disprove evolution, I'm just curious)

Answer 1

Since you are asking your question with sincerity, (i.e. will actually read the answers!) here is the answer. Sorry it's long, but it involves clearing up some fundamental misperceptions you have about evolution.

Your question stems from 3 common misperceptions that people have about evolution. These misperceptions are actively promoted by Creationists ... because by promoting a ridiculous CARTOON version of evolution, it makes it easier to ridicule.

First, we did not evolve from what we now call "monkeys" or "apes". These are modern classifications of certain types of primates ... and we most certainly did NOT evolve from any species of primate living today. Instead we and apes/monkeys evolved from a common ancestor. Whether we evolved from "apes" or "primates" is also an oddly worded question because we *ARE* in the modern classification called "apes" and "primates" (just as we are in the modern classification called "mammals" and "vertebrates"). But the first point is that the ancestor that humans evolved "from" is not alive today.

The second misperception is that monkeys and apes are somehow "still" around. The word "still" makes no more sense than to say that humans are "still" around. The species of monkeys, and apes we see today are just as much newcomers as humans are. They are just as much a product of millions of years of evolution as we are. They are just as "advanced" (in the sense of being adapted to their environment) as we are. Very important.

The third misperception (which is the heart of your question) is thinking of evolution as a linear *chain*. That A evolves (transforms slowly) into B, then into C, then into D, etc. so how can there be both A's and D's alive at the same time?

And this is the most important thing you can learn about evolution. Evolution is not just a CHAIN. EVOLUTION IS A CONSTANTLY BRANCHING TREE. (All-caps intended not to shout at you, but to emphasize that this is the key point of my answer.)

Species always always always appear through BRANCHING ... the splitting of one species into two species. Some distant ancestor primates got geographically separated from the rest of their species, (probably a drought coupled with a migration). After thousands of generations of separation, the two branches had accumulated enough genetic differences that they could no longer interbreed with each other. They may in fact have met occasionally and mated, but the resulting offspring were either stillborn, infertile, or not strong enough to last more than one or two generations. Eventually the two branches of primates lost the ability to interbreed altogether, and became forever two separate species.

So one branch went on to become humans, and the other went on to become other types of primates. And both branches can continue to live at the same time (but in different environments) without any problem.

This concept of BRANCHING is absolutely essential and I cannot stress it enough. *Every single species, alive or extinct, that has ever existed, was the result of BRANCHING.* People who never learned (or can't understand) this concept, are doomed to have a totally wrong understanding of evolution. If you understand branching, you are a long ways along to understanding evolution.

Answer 2

You are working under a false assumption.

First, evolution happens because of two things, Mutation and Selection (usually natural).

When a mutation occurs, something either selects for it (i.e. it now has at least a good a chance at surviving as the original species) or it doesn't and dies off.

This mutation occurs in one individual, not in the entire species. Sometimes the advantage is so profound the new species out competes the original species and the original dies off. Sometimes it finds a different niche and the original species remains around.

If a new species ALWAYs usurped the previous species, then evolution would have caused only one species on the planet to exist, there wouldn't have been an evolutionary tree.

We evolved from a common ancestor of humans and apes.

Answer 3

We didn't 'evolve from monkeys' - if you have any understanding of evolutionary biology that statement makes no sense - we have both evolved from a common ancestor approximately 40 million years ago.

Rephrased in these terms it would be like you saying 'If I had a common grandfather with my cousin, why do my cousins still exist?'

You see? Phrased like that you begin to see the holes in the theory - it assumes human kind are the 'point' of evolution - only religious people make that mistake. The question is probably more devastating when asked to a religious person – they can’t explain the purpose of an animal other than man which is not man’s food or servant because they believe the Universe was made for them. Neo-darwinists can easily explain why there are other animals, because that’s just what you’d expect to see. You might as well ask if we came from dust, why is there still dust? If you’re honest with yourself, it’s easy to see which theory of our origins is based on reality and which is a bronze-age allegory.

Biologists have understood and accepted since Victorian times that we're not the destined pinnacle of evolutionary adaptation, just an unexpected adaptation, one minor twig on the branch that is Mammalia.

Kind Regards.

Answer 4

You're going to get a lot of flak- this question is asked, like, every 10 minutes.

The thing is, we didn't evolve from apes and monkeys.

Humans, and the apes and monkeys that exist today evolved from a common ancestor that is no longer around. Each species that evolved from that common ancestor was better suited for its niche than that ancestor was.

Very few things exist in forms like their forms from millions of years ago, and those that do (some fish, sharks, horseshoe crabs) tend to be fair simple critters (and also really cool)

Answer 5

Maybe the whole ape/monkey/primate thing didn't totally evolutionize. Maybe we're a branch, like felines and other animals.

Answer 6

the truth is that we just evolve new theories.If we were came from the monkeor apes than why not the new baby which are born are not born in a form of the monkey and apes why they are a human when they are born.If u want a answere the go and read bible in genesis chpt-1

Answer 7

Because the truth is that we dont really know. Science only theorizes, and unfortunately many ideas are manufactured to support independent theories