Chimps Evolved More Than Humans

jas_public writes "Since the human and chimp families split about 6 million years ago, chimpanzee genes seem to have evolved more than human genes. The results, detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, go against the conventional wisdom that humans are the result of a high degree of genetic selection, evidenced by our relatively large brains, cognitive abilities, and bipedalism. The researchers found that 'substantially more genes in chimps evolved in ways that were beneficial than was the case with human genes.'"

Comments

Is this really surprising?

[MrTester]

I just don't find this surprising.
Darwinism defines how our genes change in order to help us survive our environment.

At some point the human gene set allowed us to change our environment to help us survive. This would logically mean that our genes would have less impetus to change.
The Chimps genes have not had that sheltered environment so have been forced to continue adapting.

No big shocker here.

This is not suprising if you understand evolution

[TipsyMacStaggerer]

I really don't think many people appreciate the deeper implications of the general Darwinian algorithm. What needs to occur in order for there to be evolution, there needs be only a population with heredity and variable traits. The human brain, which evolved into its present form a few hundred thousand years ago, is a shockingly plastic object, when we learn something, it can be transmitted whole or piecemeal to others around us. We have overlap of generations, so something learned by one can become the base of that in the next. We don't need strong genetic evolution if we are able to alter our behavior arbitrarily simply at the level of a brain, this is much faster and more effective than genetic evolution, which undoubtedly still occurs in humans, is very slow (by our standards) and probably made slower by the heavy lifting being done by our brains. I just think people should begin to appreciate the implications of Darwinism that are plainly derivable from the premises. Don't be lazy!

Re:Evolution vs Inteligence Re:Creationists

[Flendon]

As for direction. Our professional athletes, scientists and Engineers produce far fewer children than those at the bottom of our social order. For the sake of our species, I would advise you all (Creationists and Evolutionist) to pray (To Jesus or Darwin) that human intelligence is not seriously impacted by our genetic makeup. If it is our society will collapse when we are no longer able to maintain what our parents built. Oddly enough that is the plot for the movie Idiocracy

Re:can't walk without shoes?????

[WorseThanNormal]

I like your post, but have one question. I've always understood that most (to use your own term) 'native people' walked toe to heel and not flat footed. This would, in my own practice at least, lead someone to walk much more cautiously, as you point out. But I could be wrong and often are. Hmm, I guess I didn't really pose a question, did I?