Saturday, April 17, 2010
Family Tree - Genetic Similarity
Here are some very informative charts at the human origin exhibit at the Museum of Natural History in D.C.
This shows the human family tree. There is confusion on evolution. Some think it doesn't make sense for apes to be around as if evolution was a straight line. It instead branches out into amazing variations. After a period of time genetic pools separate and this is why species cannot mate and have true offspring, those that are capable of breeding. A few can breed but their offspring are sterile. An example of that is a male donkey and a female horse producing a sterile mule.
Click on pictures to get a closer view.
This charts shows how genetically similar different animals are. You can how close the Great Ape Family is genetically, chimpanzees being the closest.