Chimpanzees are not Humans

New book explains how the gap between the two species is growing as more knowledge is gained.

SUMMARY: When a pet chimpanzee named Travis last February severely mauled a Connecticut woman he knew well, police wanted to know why. They couldn't believe a species who shares "98.4 percent of his DNA" with humans would attack a human so savagely.

Author Jeremy Taylor in a new book, Not a Chimp: The hunt to find the genes that make us human, knocks down the idea that chimps and humans are so similar. The former BBC producer considers recent genetic, behavioral, and neuroscientific research and argues that far more than a handful of genes divides humans from simians.

The 98.4% figure has been used to argue for human rights for chimps, but Taylor points out that humans and mice share almost as much similarity. As the complete genomes of both chimpanzees and humans are becoming known, the chasm separating the two species is growing. For instance, a gene called FOXP2 linked to speech and language disorders is quite different. Also, one recently discovered RNA-coding sequence that may be involved in cerebral cortex development was found to be very similar in chimps and chickens, but there are 18 unique differences when compared to that of humans.

Nowhere is the gulf between humans and chimps wider than in their mental abilities. The ability to be able to infer mental states of others may underlie language and culture. Children gain this capacity gradually, but there is no evidence chimpanzees do.

Most primatologists and psychologists are conservative in assessing chimp abilities, and geneticists already admit how little they know about the two species and how they differ. It is the journalists who most need to read Not a Chimp because they often reinforce the idea that chimps are practically human.

(Picture from Wikimedia Commons)

To read the entire book review (written from an evolutionist viewpoint), click on this link to NEW SCIENTIST.

COMMENT: It is good to see secular scientists coming around to the truth that there are significant differences between humans and apes. Despite the fact this book review was written from an evolutionist viewpoint, it does hold some important lessons for the general public including some people in the animal rights movement. I would guess even many scientists who do not work in the fields involved in this research may accept the 98.4 figure and also need to be enlightened about the real situation.

Whereas pieces like this one support the fact that scientific "truth" is fluid and can vary from one moment to the next, Christians are fortunate in having a source of truth that has stood the test of time.

The Bible tells us that all land creatures including simians and humans were created on the 6th day. However, humans were created in a unique way in that God fashioned Adam out of the ground and breathed the breath of life into him. Only humans were created in the image of God. Only humans can sin. Only humans have been given eternal souls. Jesus came down to earth to die for and offer salvation only to humans. May we not turn down this free gift of salvation which is offered only through faith in Christ, but may we gladly accept it and willingly serve the Lord out of gratitude until death opens heaven's door to us.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

Where are the lengths of daylight and nighttime always 12 hours each no matter what time of the year it is?

Yesterday was the Autumnal Equinox, the beginning of autumn and the day when the lengths of daylight and nighttime both reached exactly 12 hours. In the northern hemisphere, the length of the daylight portion of each day will continue to decrease for the next three months. However, any place on the equator no matter what time of year always experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night every day.

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (September 22, 2009)

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