is it really true that we are related to great apes and that we branched off of them as a result of evolution?

also is this whole thing true:

"It is time for students of the evolutionary process, especially those who have been misquoted and used by the creationists, to state clearly that evolution is a fact, not theory, and that what is at issue within biology are questions of details of the process and the relative importance of different mechanisms of evolution. It is a fact that the earth with liquid water, is more than 3.6 billion years old. It is a fact that cellular life has been around for at least half of that period and that organized multicellular life is at least 800 million years old. It is a fact that major life forms now on earth were not at all represented in the past. There were no birds or mammals 250 million years ago. It is a fact that major life forms of the past are no longer living. There used to be dinosaurs and Pithecanthropus, and there are none now. It is a fact that all living forms come from previous living forms. Therefore, all present forms of life arose from ancestral forms that were different. Birds arose from nonbirds and humans from nonhumans. No person who pretends to any understanding of the natural world can deny these facts any more than she or he can deny that the earth is round, rotates on its axis, and revolves around the sun."

i believe it is and some people doubt that

charlotte234s

Some people don't believe evolution is correct because it does not follow with their religious beliefs. Science is yet to show determinately that evolution is true, however, we share something like 98% of our genetic makeup with some chimps, so.... it's up to you to decide if it's true or not.

Skell

In my opinion that statement is for the most part true and correct. Some others wont.

What do you feel?

asking

This is incorrect. The idea that all species on Earth today evolved from earlier forms is true, proven true, and accepted without doubt by virtually all modern biologists. No practicing biologists are in doubt about this. It is as well accepted as other scientific theories, such as gravity, thermodynamics, relativity, the cell theory, etc.

Asking

asking

Yes. We actually ARE great apes! (Although because early biologists didn't want to say that, we got stuck in a different group.) But, in fact, we branched off from among the other apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and gorillas). They are like our cousins. Somewhere back in time, we share a common ancestor, a great grandparent, if you will. Most biologists think we are most closely related to the chimpanzees and bonobos.


Yes. This paragraph is essentially true, although due to some writing errors, there are little mistakes here and there. But that is a problem caused by the person who wrote the paragraph, not with the theory of evolution.

By the way, last Saturday was the 148th anniversary of the first publication of Charles Darwin's book The Origin of Species, and therefore "Evolution Day."

I posted about evolution earlier this month and addressed some of these questions here:
<http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/spirituality/atheists-do-not-believe-how-111864-56.html#post701713> I hope this helps, Atmisk.

It is true that many people doubt the theory of evolution. But they are not biologists, and science is not a popularity contest. It's not a matter of getting the most votes for or against from non scientists or from scientists in unrelated fields. It's great that so many people are interested in science, but non scientists don't get to say, "I don't like gravity and because my friends and I don't like it, it's not true." Same for evolution, relativity, and other scientific ideas. I respect that some Christians object to evolution on religious grounds. I think they are justified in their dislike of the idea. But it's not true that any real biologists are in doubt about it. As far as science is concerned, evolution is an irrefutable fact.

Hope this helps clarify.
Asking

Fr_Chuck

no of course humans are not decended from apes, is that not the silly thing a person ever thought of. First there is no evidence at all, that it is possible, and the idea of mass evolution from primates beyond being silly, one would ask why the others did not evolve but stayed apes, guess they did not want to have to work, build houses and the such.

So no we are not

jem02081

Yes, The evidence is overwhelming & compelling. I would also add that all of modern biology and medicine is built on this foundation.

Yes!
You can “formally” call evolution a theory as you would speak of gravity as a theory. But the theory part refers to the explanation (Newton's theory of gravity or the theory of general relativity). In a similar manner “The theory of” evolution refers to the mechanisms by which the process occurs (eg natural selection).

Do you know what mitochondria are? All multicellular organisms (animals & plants) have mitochondria in their cells and all of these mitochondria (in human, apes, fish or trees) are thought to have a common ancestor. The most widely accepted theory (endosymbiotic theory) is that all of these mitochondria are the descendants of a bacterium that was taken up by a primitive cell. Don’t think that could happen? Look up coral algae symbiosis.

charlotte234s

I suppose you are right, evolution is obviously something that happens, but I meant that, it's yet to prove that we descended from apes.

red_cartoon

For the theories like Gravitation, we have got absolute proof. Newton, Kepler, Galileo and other scientists of the past have done tremendous work to prove this true. In the beginning the church did not like that idea at all. But today the church agrees. We have got rigorous mathematical proof now, how can anyone disagree.

Now for the theory of Evolution, scientist are yet to present a rigorous proof, be it mathematical or in any other form. So right now, nobody can prove that Evolution true. Neither can anyone prove Evolution false or wrong. So evolution is still an ongoing research. We are waiting for the result of the research. In the mean time you can be a part of the game ( i.e. become a scientist and participate in the research ) , support either of the teams and cheer for them. Or do whatever you want to. Just remember not to discriminate people on their favorite team in the game of evolution research.

jem02081

Which theory of gravitation do we have absolute proof for?
Newton?
General Theory of Relativity?

Absolute proof doesn't reside in science ... only in religion.
In science, theories are abandoned when they conflict with reality