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Why did some chimps evolve into humans, and some remain chimpanzees?

Why did some chimps evolve into humans, and some remain chimpanzees?

  • I just finished watching the new "NOVA: Becoming Human." I believe in evolution and I know the theory behind how chimps evolved into humans. But why are there still chimpanzees? Why didn't they ALL evolve? That's puzzling to me! Thank you!

  • Answer:

    it's simple: humans and chimps fulfill different ecological niches. From their common ancestor, some of these ancestors took to the jungles and the trees, and became apes. Others took to the savannah and the plains, and became human. Most of what distinguishes us from the other primates, such as bipedalism, reduced body hair, downward pointing nostrils, are a result of living on the savannah and needing to adapt to new challenges and dangers. Remember that evolution isn't about getting bigger, faster, or stronger, it's about adapting to one's environment. The chimps stayed in the trees because that is where they performed their best. Without need to change, they didn't. And finally, remember that every animal, both as an individual and as a species, is a transitionary animal. No two animals are exactly alike, and taxonomy (the science of cataloging organisms) is simply a momentary picture in time.

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We did not evolve from chimpanzees. We share a common ancestor and evolved from said ancestor MILLIONS of years ago.

bamisoep

Humans did not evolve from chimpanzees or bonobos. While they are the closest genetic relatives to humans, all three of us evolved from common ancestors.

scottsdalehigh64

chimps didn't "evolve into humans" we and chimps "share a common ancestor" in other words there is a species which no longer lives, that both of us evolved from. this is called divergant evolution, if a species is sperated into groups that can reproduce with eachother(group A can't mate with group B for example) than the genetic changes in one group won't match the changes in another group, if this goes on long enough the two groups will be conisdered seperate species because they will be unable to make a fertile child even if reunited. evolution isn't a certainty only a possibility, just because one group evolves in a specific way doesn't mean another group will evolve in the same exact way.

evirustheslaye

if Evolution was real no monkeys would be here.

Sneaky lier

WRONG!!! They did NOT!!!! NONE! Both species merely had a common ancestor & branched off SEPARATELY!!! Hundreds of millions of years ago.

exactly the same! i want to know that! i think that we might have been a different breed of ape.. as in Gorilla... Orang-Utan's... Babboons... Humans... but i dunno.. just my theory. Let me know if you ever find out wont ya!

Dobby.

I dunno, but I think it's because chimps where quite evolved some chose to move (in their groups and families) as a choice into the Savannah's and whatnot, and it's them that evolved. I think. You'll have to check it ;)

Katy™

Maybe because our ancestors were living close to the sea where they could eat food rich in nutrients. Than fire came which it made food easier to digest which made the body evolve. Somehow way in the back our ancestor had the chance to eat alot of nutrients and that help develop the brain. To bad chimpanzees didn't eat really nutritious stuff either use fire which made the man evolve. That is why I believe only certain chimpanzees evolve to humans, a place were they develop themselves.

Jorge

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