We did not, I repeat, not, evolve FROM monkeys. We have common ancestors. They are like evolutionary cousins. Just look at all the people you have who are, like, first and second cousins, and how different some of them are from you. You all have the same great-grandparents. That’s just, like, three generations. Imagine the divergence that can occur over, say, a million and a half years, with lots of genetic mutations and environmental factors thrown into the mix.
I just have to go to a family wedding and I see the divergence.
“Jackal fielded it before – a genetic mutation along the way is what fuels the evolution of the species. So it could happen again, it just hasn’t.”
That’s a slightly different question, but related.
If the question is “if humans evolved from monkeys [a misstatement of current theory BTW] then how can monkeys exist”, the answer is that speciation can involve branches from a root species.
If the question is “if humans evolved from monkeys, why aren’t we seeing monkeys evolve into humans right now?” the answer involves the process of chain mutations that led to the development of humans from the root species, and the incredible unlikelihood that the same chain of mutatiosn could be repeated.
I have been banned from the debate by virtue of having a humanities degree, but doubt that DIBS is up to date on the cutting edge of scientific understanding either.
Rather a long time since he was at undergrad 😉
We did not, I repeat, not, evolve FROM monkeys. We have common ancestors. They are like evolutionary cousins. Just look at all the people you have who are, like, first and second cousins, and how different some of them are from you. You all have the same great-grandparents. That’s just, like, three generations. Imagine the divergence that can occur over, say, a million and a half years, with lots of genetic mutations and environmental factors thrown into the mix.
I’m starting to see just how badly flawed our educational system is because there is such a lack of understanding of basic science principles.
and lech- there is a difference. Creationism is a faux science cobbled together from parts of real science and religious belief. It is faith based. It decides that what they don’t know, G-d must have done, and if they see something they don’t think fits with their world view, they declare it false.
dibs- I’ve got a bachelor of arts but in anthropology. I had to study all this stuff, as well as all the arty stuff. But then again, I went to a great university, and got a great education in the public schools honors programs. All that science used to be required, and we had several years of each discipline.
By daveinbedstuy on March 14, 2011 4:15 PM
By jessibaby on March 14, 2011 4:12 PM
Jackal, what are you gonna do when your kids ask you these sorts of questions? Cause the fact that I can’t answer them is like the main reason I don’t want them
I think it’s more because then you wouldn’t be able to stay out at places like Monteros until late at night.
Jessi, my daughter stopped allowing me to help with her homework around 4th grade. Really, by then they know you don’t know everything–in fact, they are just starting to think that you know nothing, and by the end of middle school they have to restrain themselves from telling you so, constantly.
Evolution and genetic mutation are two completely separate things. Evolution IS NOT a series of genetic mutations.
By slopefarm on March 14, 2011 4:21 PM
We did not, I repeat, not, evolve FROM monkeys. We have common ancestors. They are like evolutionary cousins. Just look at all the people you have who are, like, first and second cousins, and how different some of them are from you. You all have the same great-grandparents. That’s just, like, three generations. Imagine the divergence that can occur over, say, a million and a half years, with lots of genetic mutations and environmental factors thrown into the mix.
I just have to go to a family wedding and I see the divergence.
“Jackal fielded it before – a genetic mutation along the way is what fuels the evolution of the species. So it could happen again, it just hasn’t.”
That’s a slightly different question, but related.
If the question is “if humans evolved from monkeys [a misstatement of current theory BTW] then how can monkeys exist”, the answer is that speciation can involve branches from a root species.
If the question is “if humans evolved from monkeys, why aren’t we seeing monkeys evolve into humans right now?” the answer involves the process of chain mutations that led to the development of humans from the root species, and the incredible unlikelihood that the same chain of mutatiosn could be repeated.
I have been banned from the debate by virtue of having a humanities degree, but doubt that DIBS is up to date on the cutting edge of scientific understanding either.
Rather a long time since he was at undergrad 😉
We did not, I repeat, not, evolve FROM monkeys. We have common ancestors. They are like evolutionary cousins. Just look at all the people you have who are, like, first and second cousins, and how different some of them are from you. You all have the same great-grandparents. That’s just, like, three generations. Imagine the divergence that can occur over, say, a million and a half years, with lots of genetic mutations and environmental factors thrown into the mix.
I’m starting to see just how badly flawed our educational system is because there is such a lack of understanding of basic science principles.
and lech- there is a difference. Creationism is a faux science cobbled together from parts of real science and religious belief. It is faith based. It decides that what they don’t know, G-d must have done, and if they see something they don’t think fits with their world view, they declare it false.
dibs- I’ve got a bachelor of arts but in anthropology. I had to study all this stuff, as well as all the arty stuff. But then again, I went to a great university, and got a great education in the public schools honors programs. All that science used to be required, and we had several years of each discipline.
By daveinbedstuy on March 14, 2011 4:15 PM
By jessibaby on March 14, 2011 4:12 PM
Jackal, what are you gonna do when your kids ask you these sorts of questions? Cause the fact that I can’t answer them is like the main reason I don’t want them
I think it’s more because then you wouldn’t be able to stay out at places like Monteros until late at night.
Jessi, my daughter stopped allowing me to help with her homework around 4th grade. Really, by then they know you don’t know everything–in fact, they are just starting to think that you know nothing, and by the end of middle school they have to restrain themselves from telling you so, constantly.
“[I can recommend a really good lecture on the process of speciation if you want….]”
yeah – i’d actually be interested in hearing that. this stuff is interesting.
“- a genetic mutation along the way is what fuels the evolution of the species. So it could happen again, it just hasn’t. ”
shouldn’t there be some sort of lifeform btw monkeys and humans tho? why did the in-between links all die off?