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2007-03-13 08:01:15 · 7 answers · asked by donn o 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Because 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.
2007-03-13 09:20:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most simple answer to this is that humans did not evolve directly from apes, but rather both evolved from a common ancestor. Think of it like a tree where the trunk is what humans evolved from all those many years ago, with branches representing animals that exist now (and some that no longer exist), including chimpanzees (our closest ape relatives) and humans.
2007-03-13 08:06:25 · answer #2 · answered by movingforward902 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This marks the 806th time this question has been asked. Search back through already asked questions.
*sigh* Here we go again.
Yes, we evolved from apes.
We evolved from an isolated population of apes. Other populations of apes, with different environments and different selection pressures from our ancestors, gave rise to the chimps and other apes we see today.
Now ask yourself: If Christians evolved from Jews, why are there still Jews?
2007-03-13 08:39:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans share an ancestor with apes (we are apes in a sense). We did not evolve FROM them.
2007-03-13 08:04:27 · answer #4 · answered by three_holepunch_haircut 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans and apes evolved from a common ancestor.
But your question is similar to asking, if we were born from parents, why are they still around? Why should one species have to vanish for another species to come around? Evolution occurs in populations, not in species or individuals.
2007-03-13 08:15:10 · answer #5 · answered by retzy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We no more 'descended' from modern-day apes then you descended from me. But, if you go back far enough, I guarantee that you and I *do* have a common ancester.
And, if you go back several million years, humans and modern-day apes have a common ancester.
HTH âº
Doug
2007-03-13 08:13:30 · answer #6 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
WAIT.........It all makes perfect sense! We DIDN'T evolve from apes!
2007-03-13 08:13:59 · answer #7 · answered by FIRE TIRE 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋