Discovery Channel :: Chimps More Evolved Than Humans?

[groovychk]

Originally published at Twixel.net. You can comment here or there.

Discovery Channel :: News - Animals :: Chimps More Evolved Than Humans?
A comparison of human and chimpanzee genes has revealed a startling possibility: chimps may have evolved more than humans in the 6 or 7 million years since both diverged from a common ancestor.

A study comparing human and chimp genes that appear to have evolved since we parted ways shows that humans have about 154 such genes and our nearest primate relative a whopping 233.

This implies that chimps have undergone more evolutionary changes than humans over the same period of time. It also underscores a common misunderstanding that if an animal is “more evolved” it must be smarter or superior to others in some way.

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Very interesting.

Comments

[azzy23.livejournal.com]

Do you think this could also be a warning to humans? That we could extinct, as we're less evolved anyway? Or just a simple conclusion that the physical body has evolved to a form that meets environmental needs, so the only evolution left is spiritual...?

[groovychk.livejournal.com]

I think it is a combination of things. For one - we evolved a hell of a tool with our higher brain function and we quit needing constant refinement in order to survive and procreate. For another - we interfere with natural selection because of that higher brain function as well as because of our deep emotions.
I think we will still evolve and still are - although at a much slower pace. If we split off segments of the population and put them in space or on other planets then we'd see more dramatic divergent evolution based on those new environments I'm sure.