Just curious: What's so bad about being related to dogs, cats, bats, and horses?

Question

When I play with my cat, I always take the time to inspect her dewclaws, just because it's fascinating to think "this is where Lucky's thumb would be, if she had thumbs." It's thrilling to think that this small furry person -- who wakes me every morning by pricking me with her claws until I'm too annoyed to remain in bed -- is in fact my cousin many-many-many-many times removed.

Dogs also have dewclaws; and if you inspect a bat's wings, you can't help noticing how the long splayed-out support bones resemble the fingers of the human hand.

And finally, the fossil record tells us that the ancient species which was the first horse had toes much like our own; the bones have since fused together into the hoof of the modern horse.

I think this is all rather wonderful. So why do the anti-evolution types cringe at the thought of being related to other mammals -- including our closest relatives, the great apes?

@ cdavis999uk: Oh, my, that sounds wonderful. That's not "going me one better" -- you've put my poor attempt at evolutionary physiology to shame! :)

@ lifeinheaven...: Go to wikipedia.com and type in horse evolution.

Answer 1

Charmingly put.

And I'll go you one better: I have a gigantic wallchart compiled by a team of molecular biochemists. It's titled Biochemical Pathways, and although it's 8ft x 6ft, the writing is mostly 8pt.

On it, in a huge maze of little lines, is the chemistry of Life. All life, from salmonella to spruces; algae to antelopes. All forms of life on the planet use the same basic chemistry, raw material and reagents to metabolise food, expel waste, fight off attackers and build their own bodies. They all assemble nitrates and build proteins; they use, and sometimes manufacture, carbohydrates and hydrocarbons.

The similarities are fascinating, and so are the differences - different critters will modify specific pathways for their own needs.

Here will be the path that assembles testosterone from raw precursors in mammals, but a side branch takes those same precursors in a rubber tree and makes latex instead.

There you see the path that results in a neurotransmitter in higher animals, while via a divergent path the same raw material is used by a fungus to make penicillin.

It's one of my favourite treasures. Better than anything I've seen, it shows how all the life on this planet is unified and related.

CD

Answer 2

One important purpose of many religions is to define hierarchy.

God -> Angels -> Humans -> Animals -> Plants -> Rocks;

Many people are uncomfortable without hierarchy. This is tied to many people's need for authority.

You will find that the same people who cling to hierarchy, also make arguments from authority. It comes out in defense of their own positions ("Well, the Bible says ...") and their attack on the positions of scientists ("You know Darwin recanted on his deathbed ,,," as if by invalidating the "authority" of evolution, they invalidate evolution itself).

Hierachy also has *political* purpose, which is why political and religious authority is often the first to encourage hierarchical thinking.
God -> Kings -> Men -> Slaves -> Women ->Animals ...
or
God -> Pope -> Cardinals -> Bishops -> Priests -> Men -> Animals ...
or
God -> Preacher -> Men -> Women -> Children -> Animals ...

and so on.

So the Humans > Animals hierarchy is codified very strongly in Genesis.

And this is precisely one of the things that religious fundamentalists find threatening about evolution. Just as the found Galileo/Copernicus threatening because they challenged the idea that the earth was the center of the universe ... Darwin and evolution challenged the idea that humans are the pinnacle of life, *separate* from animals.

Answer 3

That is a beautiful thought and I find myself thinking about those similarities too. There is plenty of fossil record showing links to the horse's ancestors, genetic sequences showing our closeness to the apes, hybrids like mules and wholphins that show us that different species are still so close they can still mate: the "missing links" to speciation...

Some of the rude and unintelligent arguments that your well- thought question has generated also shows me that some people are more related to apes than others.

Of course, all these evidence is easily ignored and frown upon to those that believe blindly and literally in a book created to give hope and life meaning to the poor that lived over 2k years ago, as much as little children believe blindly in Santa Claus so they can have a gift to look forward to in Christmas....

Some people are just too egocentric and use that as an excuse to deny the fact that we belong, after all, to the same kingdom as animals and we live in a society not much different than prairie dogs, elephants, or orangutans. Is also much easier to condone animal abuse and habitat destruction when you have the excuse that a "superior being" gave you the power to.

ps. CD... you tickled my curiosity too, where can I see or get one of those posters? sounds very interesting

Answer 4

If we evolved from animals, it would be in the Bible. I am not fascinated about being created from dirt. But I accept it,because Genesis is my God's eyewitness account on what happened in the beginning. Jesus confirmed the Old Testament and promised the New Testament.

You do not actually have to believe everything in the Bible. Our salvation is not about how righteous or wise or how strong you are...we are saved because of the grace and mercy of God.

Minimum requirement is John 3:16. But I believe that the Bible is true. : )

Answer 5

relies upon of the character of the canines or cat yet have a decision for canines on condition that I grew up with one. No pets allowed the place I stay, so I certainly have a hamster suited now :) each and every animal has a undeniable character and maximum are impressive. The bonding is going with staying power, love, playtime, suprices, grooming and care and yummy treats :) there is plenty animals can instruct you approximately dignity, loyalty, classification, care and duty. Their vibes are so in sinc and organic. Leo solar Cap moon

Answer 6

1. the fossils cannot be tested, only the soil they are found in.
2. no missing link has ever,never, ever been found.
3. please share with me the link that backs up your claim about the horse.
4. somehow I get the feeling that some crackpot evolutionist is trying to stir up false claims again.
5. is this same nonsense as the idiot who found Peking man?
6. every case of a missing link has been found to be a hoax.
God Bless

Answer 7

CD... well put! I want one of those charts now..

I was having a discussion with my fiance's father and mother (dad is a vet, mom's an evolutionary anthropologist) about the similarities we have with animals. For example, a pig's cardiovascular system is remarkably similar to ours... I think we certainly share common lineage with all animals. How else would you explain the similarities to our basic life functions?

Answer 8

Humans are seperate and superior to animals because we were made in the image of God. Since we are above all of God's creation on earth we should care for it, since God entrusted us with it. God created all species. The only evolution that is true is micro-evoulution or the change within species. Macro-evolution, however, is not true. There is no evidence for it and the fossil record does not show that it is true either. Different species do not become a completely different species. This has never been shown on earth or the fossil record. God bless.

Answer 9

Nothing is wrong with it. Maybe if more people thought that way, we would quit being such a selfish species and demolishing every other animals' habitats and lives.

The animals that really intrigue me are elephants and how they interact with each other.

Answer 10

I think all of creation is beautiful. I'm not sure that I evolved from a bat, but I do believe we are all one, made of the same stuff, and that is good enough for me.