Please explain it in "simpleton" terms.
Thank you.
2007-09-14 06:24:34 · 18 answers · asked by †↓ѕіѕтея•матуІdа↓† 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
We didn't come from monkeys. My Grandma was not a monkey.
2007-09-14 06:30:22 · answer #1 · answered by Darth Cheney 7 · 12⤊ 2⤋
A key mechanism in evolution is adaptive radiation. A successful species gives rise to many related species which branch out to fill various ecological niches. The common ancestor of all living primates (including humans) lived 50-55 million years ago. Its descendant species occupy a variety of ecological niches. Some are closely competitive (i.e., spider monkeys and woolly monkeys) and others are not closely competitive (spider monkeys and gorillas). The common ancestor of all Hominoidae (humans and other great apes) lived 16-20 million years ago. Its descendants include only 5 species (humans, gorillas, orang-u-tans, bonobos, chimpanzees).
While the order primates have enjoyed some success in adaptive radiation, it is nothing compared to some other orders, such as passerine birds. A couple of thousand of different species have evolved from a common ancestor in about the same time span as primates have diversified.
I hope this answers your question. One might as well ask why are there still robins if we have cardinals.
2007-09-14 08:03:46 · answer #2 · answered by Dendronbat Crocoduck 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
*drink*
We do indeed have monkey ancestors (take it from me, I'm a top contributor). Our last monkey ancestor was about 22 million years ago. That ancestor isn't any of the monkey species extant today, but would nonetheless be thought of as an "Old World monkey." When I think about this ancestor, I picture Curious George.
There are still monkeys today because we're descended from an isolated population of monkeys. In the isolated population, the selection pressures were different than on the main population. The main population may eventually have evolved into one or more of the species of modern monkey -- or maybe it went extinct, and modern monkeys are descended from other species of monkey that existed 22 million years ago.
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So think of it in these terms: Americans are descended from Europeans, so why are there still Europeans?
2007-09-14 07:39:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Humans evolved from Apes, not monkeys. The reason "evolutionists" believe humans evolved from "monkeys" is because 1. Numerous fossils have been dug up in Africa showing various transitional species between humans and Apes. 2. Human and Ape DNA is 98% similar, with mostly the same genes arranged on the same places on the same chromosomes. The only chromosome difference is that two Ape chromosomes are fused into one chromosome in humans. In between these chromosomes is telemorese, a special kind of DNA normally only found on the ends of Chromosomes. 3. "Endogenous retroviruses" are small bits of virus DNA (not functional because they are incomplete) that get passed down genetically from one generation to the next as a result of an ancestor having a virus infection. Humans and Apes even share the same strands of nonfunctional virus DNA on the same places on the same chromosomes. 4. Humans have some of the genetic material to create Vitamin C (which other mammals can do) however these genes are non-functional and serve no purpose in humans. 5. Humans have vestigial organs, such as the muscles that allow some people to wiggle their Ears. 6. When humans are afraid, they get "goose bumps". These serve no purpose in humans. In animals, the hair follicles stand up to make the animal appear larger. This vestigial function was passed down from Apes.
2016-05-19 05:01:33 · answer #4 · answered by santina 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We didn't come from monkeys, the theory is that humans and what are now modern day apes are related at some point in time. We cannot mate, we continue to evolve and broaden our concepts while they (apes) do not. I don't know what you think evoloution is but it's real. Living longer, interbreading with different poeple (races) developing stronger babies ect...That's evoloution.
Why is the offical language of the vatican latin when jesus was a jew who spoke aramaic?
Why did the church take 365 YEARS to apologise to gallileo?
Turns out he was right after all.
Why does my catholic church now recognise an "eclipse of the sun" during Easter mass when thy read abou t the crucificton of Christ? They didn't used to do that. before they just said the sky grew dark.
Sceince and religon are the same thing one relys on fact while the other relys on faith but we need both if we are to continue to survive. Faith knows no borders not even the one between science and religon
2007-09-14 07:11:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
First, we did not come from monkeys.
Humans and monkeys evolved from a common ancestor.
Consider languages, which also "evolve" through small changes over time. Latin is the common ancestor of English and French. Latin does not exist today as a spoken language. English and French both exist, and have many words in common, because they both evolved from Latin. However, someone who speaks only english would not understand someone speaking french.
In the same way as latin, the common ancestor of humans and monkeys does not exist today, and just as an english speaker does not understand a french speaker, a monkey cannot breed with a human, despite having many things (eyes, nose, 10 fingers/toes, mammary glands, etc) in common.
2007-09-14 06:38:30 · answer #6 · answered by 006 6 · 10⤊ 3⤋
We didn't evolve from monkeys; we do however share common ancestors.
Your question is a bit like asking, "Since the US gained its independence from Britain, why does the UK still exist?" It doesn't make any sense.
2007-09-14 07:15:14 · answer #7 · answered by Rat 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Very simply, then--because although evolution is a constant process of species becoming more highly developed, it never says anything about a species needing to die off just because a more highly developed one has come along, provided that the two are not in direct conflict.
2007-09-14 06:34:34 · answer #8 · answered by Mark S, JPAA 7 · 7⤊ 3⤋
Cause,sometimes,we tire of laughing at ourselves!
2007-09-14 06:55:38 · answer #9 · answered by STORMY 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We came from Lemurs, I despair at some peoples education.
2007-09-14 06:36:34 · answer #10 · answered by Link strikes back 6 · 8⤊ 2⤋