I Now Pronounce You Chimp & Larry

Posted by Davonte Martin in Science and Society - Best on

Screen shot 2010-11-12 at 2.14.47 AM
Screen shot 2010-11-12 at 2.14.47 AM
Image By:Da Vonte Martin

Scientific evidence has merely proven that humans share a common ancestor with Apes. Yes, that means we have some of the same DNA in fact DNA evidence proves that we share more than 98% of the same DNA.Though we share the same DNA there is an "unknown" ancestor whom takes the credit for connecting the human and ape species.With that being said most people would think that humans are able to mate with apes because the common DNA links them as the "same" species. Humans and apes share some of the same physical features like:

  • Walking up right

  • Thumbs

  • Ability to grasp with all five fingers

  • Similar skull structure

  • Round Ears

Sadly, humans can not reproduce with the monkey specie because that other 2% which makes the ape and human race are the chromosomes. Monkey's have 48 (24 pairs) chromosomes whereas the human body makes up of 46 (23 pairs). In order for any species to reproduce, both subjects need to have their 23 pairs of chromosomes because every chromosome carries DNA which corresponds to the opposite sex which enables them to have children.Though humans and monkeys cannot reproduce now , that doesn't mean that they have then. According to well-known Science Correspondent Richard Ingham, "The youngest chromosome in the human genome is the X, which helps determine gender. On average, X is around 1.2 million years more recent than the 22 non-sex chromosomes, the scientists found.". This means that the X-Chromosome in humans and apes are as recent as the first recorded humans only about seven-million years ago. So not only did humans and apes have sexual intercourse , but they were able to reproduce.Your maybe wondering "I thought humans and apes didn't have equal chromosomes to mate?". That's absolutely right , however more scientific evidence leads to the theory that during the interbreeding of the "unknown" ancestor and apes , two of the chromosomes look as if they had fused together.

Screen shot 2010-11-12 at 3.06.49 AM
Screen shot 2010-11-12 at 3.06.49 AM
​http://www.synapses.co.uk/genetics/chromos.html
"​Thus something unusual must have happened on the way to speciation: an initial split between human and chimp, followed by interbreeding..." says Richard Ingham.This means that mating between was at one point possible.At one point before the fusion of chromosomes, humans and apes were like opposite genders rather than opposite species. 

Citations:
  • Ingham, Richard. "Early humans had sex with chimps ." News in Science (2006): n. pag. Web. 12 Nov 2010. <http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1641443.htm>.
  • Ape, . "Apes." How Stuff Works. How Stuff Works, 16 May 2008. Web. 12 Nov 2010. <http://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/ape-info.htm>.
  • Marks, Jonathan. "What It Really Means To Be 99% Chimpanzee ."Department of Anthropology (1999): n. pag. Web. 12 Nov 2010. <http://personal.uncc.edu/jmarks/interests/aaa/marksaaa99.htm>
  • MacAandrew, Alec. "Human Chromosome 2 is a fusion of two ancestral chromosomes ." Department of Anthropology n. pag. Web. 11 Nov 2010. <http://www.evolutionpages.com/chromosome_2.htm>.
  • Rodriguez, Monica. "Ask a Geneticist." Tech Museum:Stanford School of Medicine (2007): n. pag. Web. 12 Nov 2010. <http://www.thetech.org/genetics/ask.php?id=229>.
  • Pbs, Science. "Evolution Frequently Asked Questions." PBS Science (2010): n. pag. Web. 12 Nov 2010. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/faq/cat03.html>.

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