The relationship between humans and chimps is remarkably close, nearly identical in terms of DNA, so according to my textbook, some biologists believe it's possible to interbeed, though they would produce sterile offspring. Is it possible, and if so, why has nobody artificially inseminated chimpanzees to find out?
2007-08-14 11:18:29 · 14 answers · asked by Link 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Offspring fertility is not the criterion for species differentiation. A number of species can crossbreed and produce fertile hybrids - best known ones are probably the various birds that do it (especially among the ducks). Species determination is a fairly arbitrary decision based more on reproductive isolation than offspring qualities.
Anyway, about this idea of crossbreeding - maybe it would work, maybe it wouldn't. Degree of DNA similarity is suggestive, but not conclusive, since there may be critical areas of difference among those small variations. As to why nobody has tried: that's a sort of squirm-inducing idea, and I suspect that most of us aren't too crazy about looking into it much. Anyway, would it tell you very much that was interesting, new and useful? I don't know.
2007-08-14 12:02:50 · answer #1 · answered by John R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure. Now, we have here the potential to find out that chimps and humans are actually the same species. If you can produce a chimp-human hybrid, that doesn't necessarily mean that chimps and humans are the same species. (You're right, as we understand it, a chimp-human hybrid would be sterile.) However, if a chimp-human hybrid proved to be fertile, then chimps and humans would be the same species.
Since Ligers/Tigons (can't remember which) proved to be fertile, Tigers and Lions are the same species so Tigons/Ligers aren't hybrids.
True hybrids are barren.
2007-08-14 18:26:38 · answer #2 · answered by alienwhoseshiplandedonearth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans have 46 chromosomes and Chimps have 48. This would make it almost impossible to produce progeny.
c-ya
2007-08-14 21:26:29 · answer #3 · answered by bronte heights 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Which textbook is that? I would like to see exactly what it says. I majored in Evolutionary Anthropology and never read anything like that. You have to be careful about 'some biologists.' Apparently 'some biologists' believe evolution isn't real.
2007-08-14 20:03:46 · answer #4 · answered by Handsome Chuck 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so!! Monkeys and us are two completely different things. Even though we have some things in common, it's doesn't mean we came from them or that we can produce something from 'interbreeding' with them. It's like saying an apple cat and dog are similar because they have fur, four legs, ears, and tails. But it doesn't mean they can make little pupcats. They are totally different. Same with us and monkeys.
2007-08-14 22:36:22 · answer #5 · answered by ~Living4HIM~ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They say that species can't interbreed, but horses and donkeys make mules and someone mentioned the Ligers. Also, early man ie homo sapiens and Neanderthals have mated and produced our ancestors (at least in one theory) and they were of different species.
2007-08-14 19:54:47 · answer #6 · answered by Rob R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stalinist Russia did a few experiments that were unsuccessful. Just because something is possible, doesn't make it worth doing. The ethical implications far outweigh any knowledge that would be gained.
2007-08-14 19:20:54 · answer #7 · answered by novangelis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As you say, some do but more dont. If you're really so interested, why don't you volunteer to be a sperm donor in the experiment?
2007-08-14 18:25:04 · answer #8 · answered by RobRoy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Speaking from experiance, I've had no luck what-so-ever in getting my chimp pregnant. Maybe it's my sperm count......
2007-08-14 18:26:54 · answer #9 · answered by Bruce J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
False. Throw away your textbook. It sucks.
2007-08-14 18:25:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋