Are We Really Related to Chimps?

Chromosome Comparisons Chromosomes are strands of DNA, found in the nucleus of a cell. They are only visible during certain parts of cell division. Species that are more closely related should have more similar chromosomes, meaning that if a similarity is found between human and primate chromosomes, then a common ancestor can also be assumed. The chromosomes of humans and other primates are strikingly similar, particularly chimpanzees. In fact, chromosomes 6, 13, 19, 21, 22, and X have identical banding patterns for four species of primates, as well as humans. So it can be assumed that there is a relationship.

The Role of Fusion Similarities in chromosome banding patterns and hybridization homologies between ape and human chromosomes led many scientists to believe that chromosome 2, actually arose out of the fusion of two ancestral ape chromosomes. This was vital in demonstrating a common ancestry with extant great apes. This piece of evidence was difficult to be explained by any mechanism other than fusion.

The Significance of Cladograms A clade is a group of organisms that includes all the descendents of a common ancestor and that ancestor. A Cladogram is a tree diagram used to clearly illustrate phylogenic relationships through time. In biology, they are an extremely important way of grouping information. With Cladograms scientists can classify organisms a certain way, in light of time and common ancestry. It is an excellent way of organizing our ideas of evolution.

Our Relationship To Primates df This is the Cladogram of Hominids, and it depicts what we know currently about our relationship to primates and how we fit into the Hominid tree.

Fossil Evidence There is an increasing amount of fossil evidence available to prove common ancestry, most noteworthy the renowned Lucy, a nearly complete Australopithecus africanus skeleton dating back approximately 3 million years ago. Discovered in Hadar, Ethiopia, Lucy provided groundbreaking insight into human evolution. Although in bodily structure and brain size Lucy had more in common with chimps than the modern human being, it can be determined through the structure of her knee joint and leg that she walked upright, providing us with knowledge of a primate that moved similarly to a modern person.

Chimpanzee Chromosomes

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