Chimps 'should be reclassified as humans'

The Independent (U.K.) ^ | 05/20/03 | Steve Connor

[Pokey78]

A molecular comparison of the chimpanzee with man has concluded that our closest living relative is closer than we ever imagined and that its genetic similarity even gives it a right to join life's most exclusive club - being human.

Researchers who have compared the working genes of chimps and humans believe that the two species are so alike at the level of their DNA that they should both be classified as members of the human genus Homo.

Traditionally chimpanzees, also known as Pan troglodytes, have been classified as belonging to the pongid family as they were considered to be closer to other non-human primates, such as gorillas and orang-utans, but the latest study by Morris Goodman of Wayne State University in Detroit puts chimps close enough to humans for them to become practically indistinguishable.

"What we found was that at the genetic level chimps are more like humans than gorillas. The finding would support those who want to extend legal controls to stop the abuse of chimps," Professor Goodman said. "Our results lend weight to the idea that it wouldn't be ethical to treat them in the way laboratory animals like rats or mice are treated," he said.

The research team found that some of the most important genes of chimps and humans share about 99.4 per cent of their genetic sequence, bringing them far closer together than the 98 per cent similarity which previous studies have suggested.

Professor Goodman explained that his study looked at the crucial "coding" or functional regions of 97 genes common to chimps and humans that have changed as a result of natural selection.

They also looked at rather more neutral "non-coding" regions of the genome where changes are more rapidly accumulated because they are less important. Here the similarity was less pronounced.

Most non-coding DNA -- which is usually not part of a gene and does not produce proteins -- is not closely scrutinised and shaped by natural selection and so on average evolves more rapidly than the DNA of working genes, which are responsible for the body's vital proteins.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, challenges the anthropocentric concept of nature that has dominated zoological classification since Aristotle who conceived a "great chain of being" from the lowliest creatures to the higher forms of life

Humans and our extinct relatives such as the Neanderthals, are classified as belonging to the Homo or hominid grouping based on anatomical comparisons but the researchers write: "This concept of greatly different 'hominid' and 'pongid' zones has perpetuated the widespread continuing use of the term 'hominids' to refer solely to humans.

"We humans appear as only slightly remodelled chimpanzee-like apes. We argue in the light of findings such as 99.4 per cent identity between humans and chimpanzees ... to place these two closely related genetic relatives in the same genus," they add.

[Pokey78]

The DNC's new voter drive.

[RightWhale]

Universal suffrage. Don't underestimate the importance of the chimp vote, and don't assume you have a lock on it. Can we still say chimp, it's not a PC thing already is it?

[My2Cents]

The DNC's new voter drive.

That was my thought before even reading the story!

[morque2001]

Keep a licked lower lip!

[My2Cents]

They have two more opposable thumbs than homo sapiens, so they're probably more advanced than we are.

[Paul Atreides]

Chimps 'should be reclassified as humans'

More pro-France crapola!

[martin_fierro]

Hairless chimp

Bears an uncanny resemblance to some people I've known.

[Focault's Pendulum]

One might wonder...what language will be used in order for them to pass the driver's test.

[Blue Collar Christian]

So...the new Democrat is 99 and 44/100 percent human. I don't believe that is news.

[saint]

The DNC's new voter drive.

Wow. What an insult to chimps.

[Loyalist]

So a child in the womb just days from being born is not human, but a howling chimpanzee swinging in the trees is.

[Political Junkie Too]

Maybe we should send out Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp to find Osama and Saddam!

-PJ

[Pan_Yans Wife]

"We humans appear as only slightly remodelled chimpanzee-like apes."

Why must humans be slightly remodelled... couldn't it be that the chimps look like slighly-remodelled humans? Isn't that a better comparison?

[LadyDoc]

sorry, but chimps and humans cannot interbreed, so there is no proof that they are the same. Also, we can't transplant chimp hearts, or use chimp blood in humans. Finally, chimp diseases is not usually spread to humans.

As for "sharing DNA" all mammals share DNA. I believe I read somewhere that mice have 97 percent of the same DNA...

[ladyinred]

LOL!! My very first thought was the democrats too! Then I decided that Chimps are far too cute and smart and easily trained.
My second thought is that they already have Serpent head, so perhaps we should just stick with that creature as a role model for the DNC! They do often make "asps" of themselves. :-)

[Blue Collar Christian]

Actually, the chimps couldn't be Democrats, the article says they have "working" genes.

[onedoug]

Who was it that tried a statistical study on whether chimps could write Hamlet, if left with typwriters and enough time?

The machines that weren't wrecked were saturated with chimpshit.

[jammer]

Hmmm. Interesting. They speak of "important" genes, etc. I was sure I read last night in a reputable journal where these same papers presented the opposite conclusion, i.e., whereas it was thought there was a 98-99% similarity, the number is now slightly higher than 94%.

If I have time, I will try to find that article. The politicization of science is very sad. Otherwise, did I misread?

[RightWhale]

Plants are genetically related, also. Just a few differences here and there. Space aliens couldn't tell us apart.

[pierrem15]

That's "chimpanzee-american" to you, buddy!