The fossil record is pretty much full of gradual changes.

let’s just take a very small set of great ape fossils over the past several million years.


As you can see each skull looks fairly similar to the ones next to it and not so similar to ones further away.. They are in chronological order from several million years ago through today. This is an extremely smooth transitional process ending in areas of the species Homo Sapiens.

This pattern exists in all fossil records. If it did not exist, that would present a problem for evolution. That’s why a fossil of a Precambrian rabbit or a dragon would be a serious challenge to evolution. No such challenge has ever been found.

A tail interferes with the ability to walk upright. That is why hominids AND apes AND the monkeys and prosimians that more often move in an upright posture all have reduced or absent tails.

The genetic basis of tail-loss evolution in humans and apes
NYU researchers at the Tandon School of Engineering and the Grossman School of Medicine are trying to understand an age-old question that bedeviled most of us a
https://www.newswise.com/articles/the-genetic-basis-of-tail-loss-evolution-in-humans-and-apes
The sort of foot used to move around in trees is definitely not anything like the foot used to run on the ground. I mean, look:

Contrary to the assumption many people have, it has not been a purely linear process. There have been many branches that died out leaving only the one that led to today’s humankind. This includes the Denisovans, Neaderthals and possibly other hominids capable of interbreeding with Homo sapiens sapiens.


Secondly, the continued comments about the “missing link” still missing. Anyone who asks this question is clearly ignorant of evolution as a whole and to try and explain how they are wrong will prove to be a waste of time. To date, I have never had anyone admit I changed their mind and they understood what I was saying and trying to demonstrate.

Thirdly, the fact that we have been able to adapt to occupy virtually every corner of the planet.

And lastly, our inherent need to create religion much to the detriment of humankind as a whole. As if tribalism and competition for resources (including women [sorry]) wasn’t enough we create systems that justify unspeakable actions and behaviors that normally one wouldn’t take or do if left to their own accord.

Well, now that you have confirmed that you are an ape and a d3scendant of monkeys... (no insult, I'm just paraphrasing your belief). Here's a quick question for you:

Humanity (and indeed the human body) has been as is for thousands of years ... Why has "your" evolution stalled/stopped?

One would postulate that we would have evolved physical mechanisms to cope with the environment , to fly... to protect against the sun...to generally be more....optimised for life on the planet, alas... these are pipe dreams.

So...my gorilla-friend, I think you should go back to your studies, apply your mind, and all will be revealed.

Peace.

Human beings were created separately by God in His own image, we did not evolve from apes

The first comprehensive comparison of the genetic blueprints of humans and chimpanzees shows our closest living relatives share perfect identity with 96 percent of our DNA sequence, an international research consortium reported today.

In a paper published in the Sept. 1 issue of the journal Nature, the Chimpanzee Sequencing and Analysis Consortium, which is supported in part by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), describes its landmark analysis comparing the genome of the chimp (Pan troglodytes) with that of human (Homo sapiens).

"The sequencing of the chimp genome is a historic achievement that is destined to lead to many more exciting discoveries with implications for human health," said NHGRI Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. "As we build upon the foundation laid by the Human Genome Project, it's become clear that comparing the human genome with the genomes of other organisms is an enormously powerful tool for understanding our own biology."

The chimp sequence draft represents the first non-human primate genome and the fourth mammalian genome described in a major scientific publication. A draft of the human genome sequence was published in February 2001, a draft of the mouse genome sequence was published in December 2002 and a draft of the rat sequence was published in March 2004. The essentially complete human sequence was published in October 2004.

"As our closest living evolutionary relatives, chimpanzees are especially suited to teach us about ourselves," said the study's senior author, Robert Waterston, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Genome Sciences of the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. "We still do not have in our hands the answer to a most fundamental question: What makes us human? But this genomic comparison dramatically narrows the search for the key biological differences between the species."

The 67 researchers who took part in the Chimp Sequencing and Analysis Consortium share authorship of the Nature paper. Most of the work of sequencing and assembling the chimp genome was done at the Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., and the Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis. In addition to those centers, the consortium included researchers from institutions elsewhere in the United States, as well as Israel, Italy, Germany and Spain.

The DNA used to sequence the chimp genome came from the blood of a male chimpanzee named Clint at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta. Clint died last year from heart failure at the relatively young age of 24, but two cell lines from the primate have been preserved at the Coriell Institute for Medical Research in Camden, N.J.

topcatking:
Well, now that you have confirmed that you are an ape and a d3scendant of monkeys... (no insult, I'm just paraphrasing your belief). Here's a quick question for you:

Well, you simply didn't read anything I posted, this is evidence that you didn't. Or maybe you did but couldn't comprehend it

Humanity (and indeed the human body) has been as is for thousands of years ... Why has "your" evolution stalled/stopped?

Evidence found in the geological timeline inform of fossil and anatomical and DNA evidence shows that the oldest human fossil is just 300,000 years and it doesn't seem like it was created since it looks so similar to other apes in characteristics. Evidence is evidence whether or not you don't like it

One would postulate that we would have evolved physical mechanisms to cope with the environment , to fly... to protect against the sun...to generally be more....optimised for life on the planet, alas... these are pipe dreams.

this is a confused post. Maybe made up on a beer paloir gist

So...my gorilla-friend, I think you should go back to your studies, apply your mind, and all will be revealed.

Peace.

I'm not a gorrila, we both and apes but not gorrila.

It doesn't matter if you like how it sounds, evidence doesn't respect your feelings

thesicilian:
Human beings were created separately by God in His own image, we did not evolve from apes

I respect your religion but that's not why evidence says and we cannot say otherwise because your religion does not like it

Workch:
I respect your religion but that's not why evidence says and we cannot say otherwise because your religion does not like it

It's not about religion sir, there's just no evidence to support evolution. Let's forget all the grammar and scientific jargons and reason things out ourselves. Every single "fact" being put forward till date to support evolution is assumption at best. The fact that fossils resemble one another does not mean that one evolved from the other. They keep saying that humans evolved from apes millions of years ago yet there are still apes till date that have not evolved yet. Why is that so? They say giraffes have long necks because they stretch them to eat leaves from tall shrubs/trees, are they the only animals that try to do so? Isn't it more likely that giraffes eat leaves from tall trees simply because they have long necks?
If evolution evolved millions of years ago, why is it no longer occuring today? Why have the humans not evolved into something else?

Workch:
Well, you simply didn't read anything I posted, this is evidence that you didn't. Or maybe you did but couldn't comprehend it

Evidence found in the geological timeline inform of fossil and anatomical and DNA evidence shows that the oldest human fossil is just 300,000 years and it doesn't seem like it was created since it looks so similar to other apes in characteristics. Evidence is evidence whether or not you don't like it

this is a confused post. Maybe made up on a beer paloir gist

I'm not a gorrila, we both and apes but not gorrila.

It doesn't matter if you like how it sounds, evidence doesn't respect your feelings

Kids these days....

Well...i promise you, you will "grow" out of this phase and know better.

Have a great life.

thesicilian:

It's not about religion sir, there's just no evidence to support evolution.

anything that has to do with God is religion and there's no need living in denial of that

Let's forget all the grammar and scientific jargons and reason things out ourselves. Every single "fact" being put forward till date to support evolution is assumption at best.

no they are not, you don't care to read them or maybe you don't understand science, if you do you would have pointed to the assumptions in my post and counter them with evidence but suspect that you didn't even read my posts. You are typical relgious person who becomes insecure whenever he hears evolution. Knowing fully well that if evolution is true then you religion is most likely a lie.

The fact that fossils resemble one another does not mean that one evolved from the other. They keep saying that humans evolved from apes millions of years ago yet there are still apes till date that have not evolved yet. Why is that so?

There's no other way to make sense out of it unless that they evolved. Unless you want to insert magic and God into it

They say giraffes have long necks because they stretch them to eat leaves from tall shrubs/trees, are they the only animals that try to do so? Isn't it more likely that giraffes eat leaves from tall trees simply because they have long necks?

You are ignorant of evolution sir, this is lamarckian model of evolution and it has been disproven like 200 years ago. I can't believe you are still stuck in 1800s

If evolution evolved millions of years ago, why is it no longer occuring today? Why have the humans not evolved into something else?

Who says evolution is not happening?
Where did you hear that from?
Which scientist said that

topcatking:


Kids these days....

Well...i promise you, you will "grow" out of this phase and know better.

Have a great life.

Growing up is the ability to follow evidence where it leads irrespective of what your prejudice, religous beliefs and population says.
This is why I respect catholic church and the church of England, irrespective of their faith, they follow evidence where it leads hence accept evolution but only uneducated religious literalists who are starved of proper educational infrastructure like in Africa still have a problems with glaring evidence.

I got to tell you to grow up like those churches. Evidence doesn't care what you believe in

Homo sapiens is #9. Who were the eight other human species?

There were at least eight other human species, some of whom existed for far longer than we have. Who were they?

-Most experts agree that our species, Homo sapiens (Latin for “wise men”), is the ninth and youngest human species.

-The lives of the other eight species tell a story of how humans slowly evolved away from the other apes, developing the ability to walk, eat meat, hunt, build shelters, and perform symbolic acts.

-Our ancestors probably pushed our closest relatives, the Neanderthals, to extinction. Wise guys finish last.

We like to think humans are special. Certainly our species has some impressive accomplishments compared to those of our closest living relatives, the chimpanzees and bonobos.

Yes, these species fight, communicate, and use tools.

But none developed a formal language, traveled space, altered the course of a planet’s climate, painted the Mona Lisa, composed Für Elise, conceived of the Internet, or invented Velcro.

It seems odd that our closest living relatives have such little ambition. (Though arguably, they have more peace — well, except for the Gombe Chimpanzee War.)

Have you ever wondered why there is not another species like us?

One line of reasoning suggests that we would not be so unique had we not killed off some of our relatives.

The eight other human species

Around 6 million years ago, a branch of apes evolved to become the first species of the genus Homo.

These early humans ditched the long arms of apes for stronger legs. While they could no longer swing around on trees, they could stand upright, walk, and colonize new ecosystems, away from the forest.

The brains of early humans grew until we were using complex tools to hunt large animals, build fires, and construct shelters.

By the time Homo sapiens arrived on the scene some 300,000 years ago, we were the ninth Homo species, joining habilis, erectus, rudolfensis, heidelbergensis, floresiensis, neanderthalensis, naledi, and luzonensis.

Many of these species lived for much longer periods of time than we have, yet we get all the attention. It is time for a family reunion.

H. habilis: the handy man (2.4 million – 1.4 million years ago)

In 1960, a team of researchers uncovered fossilized remains of an early human in Tanzania.

These fossils had braincases slightly larger than those of apes. Suspecting that these specimens were responsible for the thousands of stone tools found near the site, scientists dubbed the species “handy man” — Homo habilis.

Thought to have evolved nearly 2.4 million years ago, H. habilis is widely considered to be the first member of the genus Homo that evolved from apes.

H. Habilis was small, clocking in around 70 pounds and standing somewhere between 3.5 feet and 4.5 feet tall.

We also know that H. habilis made complex tools, including stones used to butcher animals. H. Habilis lived as the only member of our genus for nearly a million years.

H. erectus: the enduring hiker (1.89 million to 110,000 years ago)

As the name implies, Homo erectus is the first known Homo species that stood fully upright. H. erectus featured other, modern human proportions distinct from those of apes: shorter arms relative to the torso, and long legs adapted for walking and running, rather than climbing trees.

H. erectus is the first human with a significantly larger braincase than that of apes.

They also had smaller teeth. The latter adaptation probably helped H. erectus eat meat and quickly digestible protein.

This would fuel the increased nutritional requirements that came with taller bodies and larger brains.

In fact, scientists found campfires and hearths near the remains of H. erectus, suggesting they were the first humans to dabble with cooking — a uniquely human activity that gave us access to easily digestible food, allowing our brains and bodies to grow.

H. erectus was a very successful species.

They walked the Earth for a period lasting nearly nine times as long as our current reign.

H. rudolfensis: the stranger (1.9 million to 1.8 million years ago)

We know little about Homo rudolfensis, a hominid discovered near Kenya’s Lake Rudolf (now known as Lake Turkana).

H. rudolfensis had a considerably greater braincase than Homo habilis — a good indicator that the species was human.

However, some scientists argue it may be better placed with the genus Australopithecus, a close relative of Homo, because of its smaller size and similarities in the pelvis and shoulder.

H. heidelbergensis: the hunter (700,000 to 200,000 years ago)

Around 700,000 years ago, Homo heidelbergensis (sometimes referred to as Homo rhodesiensis) arrived on the scene in Europe and eastern Africa.

Scientists think that these smaller, wider humans were the first to live in cold places.

The remains of animals like horses, elephants, hippopotamuses, and rhinoceroses, were found together with H. heidelbergensis.

That proximity suggests that this group of humans was the first to hunt larger animals with spears.

To stay warm, these humans also learned how to control fire, and they built simple shelters out of wood and rock.

Most scientists agree that the African branch of H. heidelbergensis gave rise to our own species, Homo sapiens.

H. floresiensis: the Hobbit (100,000 to 50,000 years ago)

Homo floresiensis is known only from remains found in 2003 on the Island of Flores, Indonesia. Along with the remains of H. floresiensis were some stone tools, dwarf elephants and komodo dragons — a discovery that paints quite a scene of the island life of these small humans.

The isolation of H. floresiensis likely contributed to its small brains and stature (estimated at approximately 3 feet, 6 inches from a female specimen).

In fact, its size conforms to the ecological principle of insular dwarfism, which predicts that animals reduce their body size when their population’s range is limited to a small island environment.

H. floresiensis made stone tools and hunted diminutive elephants, whose own small size stands as another example of insular dwarfism.

How H. floresiensis arrived at its namesake island is still unknown — the nearest island is separated from Flores by 6 miles of rough seas.

H. neanderthalensis: The Neanderthal thinkers (400,000 – 40,000 years ago)

Say hello to our closest relatives — the Neanderthals.

Neanderthals were shorter and stockier than us but had brains that were as big, or even bigger, than our own. Neanderthals lived a tough life.

We find bones riddled with fractures, suggesting they did not always succeed when they hunted large animals.

They also lived in seriously cold environments in Europe and in southeastern and central Asia.

To cope, they made fires and lived in sophisticated shelters. They also made clothing, using complex tools such as sewing needles crafted from bone.

Scientists have found dozens of fully articulated Neanderthal skeletons across many sites, which suggests that the Neanderthals buried their dead and marked their graves.

This indicates that Neanderthals conducted the kind of symbolic acts associated with the cognitive processes that lead to language.

Their burials also helped modern humans: With so many intact specimens, scientists have successfully extracted Neanderthal DNA. Using that resource, researchers found that at one point, humans and Neanderthals mated.

H. naledi: the enigmatic newcomer (335,000 to 236,000 years ago)

Homo naledi were small hominids that lived in South Africa. We do not know much about H. naledi, because they were only discovered in late 2015.

In a single expedition, scientists excavated an astounding 1,550 specimens from at least 15 individuals. These specimens show us that H. naledi were small (around 4 feet, 9 inches).

While the excavation unearthed a treasure trove of human fossils, the researchers found no tools or other animals alongside H. naledi, so their lifestyle remains a mystery.

H. luzonensis: a polemic finding (at least 67,000 years ago)

In 2019, researchers visited a small cave on an island in northern Indonesia. Inspired by the discovery of H. floresiensis, the scientists wondered whether other islands also had human dwellers.

The researchers struck gold — kind of. Though they found human remains, they only unearthed seven teeth, three foot bones, two finger bones, and a fragment of a thighbone.

Still, due to its geographic isolation and small size, the scientists felt confident in declaring that this species was unknown to science.

They named it luzonensis after Luzon, the island on which it was found.

Some researchers question the finding, arguing that there were not enough remains to rule out that H. luzonensis is a variant of the well-known island-dweller H. floresiensis.

The discovery reinvigorated questions of how exactly these humans reached the islands.

Wise guys finish last

Not all these extinct humans coexisted with our H. sapiens ancestors. Most of them probably went extinct due to intense changes in climate.

However, scientists suspect we were hardly friendly with species such as H. neanderthalis that did live alongside us.

After humans moved into Europe, Neanderthal numbers began to dwindle. Since we all know what humans are capable of — great acts of mercy, but also of war and violence — we do not really need to guess at what happened. We competed for space and food, and we outmatched our closest relatives.

The fact that they held on for so long suggests the tides could have turned easily against us.

Neanderthals left their mark in our DNA
Our enemies were also, evidently, our lovers

Scientists extracted some DNA from Neanderthal specimens and demonstrated that H. sapiens and H. neanderthalis mated; in fact, our genomes all include one percent to eight percent neanderthal DNA.

The Neanderthals are not alone in leaving their mark on our genetic blueprint — some of us might share DNA from archaic humans discovered in the Denisovan Cave in Siberia’s Altai mountains.

Though we do not have enough remains to describe species in the Denisovan group, scientists managed to collect DNA from a juvenile female finger bone.

Most scientists suggest that the Denisovans suffered the same fate as Neanderthals: They were outcompeted by our ancestors, but only after sharing ancient beds.

Source: https://bigthink.com/the-past/other-human-species/

Workch:
The fossil record is pretty much full of gradual changes.

let’s just take a very small set of great ape fossils over the past several million years.


As you can see each skull looks fairly similar to the ones next to it and not so similar to ones further away.. They are in chronological order from several million years ago through today. This is an extremely smooth transitional process ending in areas of the species Homo Sapiens.

This pattern exists in all fossil records. If it did not exist, that would present a problem for evolution. That’s why a fossil of a Precambrian rabbit or a dragon would be a serious challenge to evolution. No such challenge has ever been found.

HOW COME WE HAVE NOT EVOLVED FROM THE WAY WE ARE CURRENTLY?

Workch:
anything that has to do with God is religion and there's no need living in denial of that

Nobody is denying religion, what that statement meant was that religion is not the key point here. If all evidence supports a deliberate intelligent design as against evolutionary development, then the fact that this also aligns with the views of religion doesn't take away any of the merits.

no they are not, you don't care to read them or maybe you don't understand science, if you do you would have pointed to the assumptions in my post and counter them with evidence but suspect that you didn't even read my posts. You are typical relgious person who becomes insecure whenever he hears evolution. Knowing fully well that if evolution is true then you religion is most likely a lie.

When I read, I do so with the intent to understand and make independent analysis. That is what probably differentiates me from many of you who swallow everything hook line and sinker because it was written by a so called theoretical scientist somewhere.

There's no other way to make sense out of it unless that they evolved. Unless you want to insert magic and God into it

The very same line of argument of those who support religion: there's no other way to make sense out of it unless they were created deliberately by a supreme being. You see the problem now?

You are ignorant of evolution sir, this is lamarckian model of evolution and it has been disproven like 200 years ago. I can't believe you are still stuck in 1800s

You still don't get the point. And that's probably because you read to just regurgitate to your none-the-wiser victims/readers. Before it was disproved Lamarck was seen as a genius because of his brilliant, infallible theory. It's the same way every single "evidence" in support of evolution keeps failing to hold up to standards everyday. But you won't see it yet though, until a scientist from Oxford or Yale writes it out for you to read.

Who says evolution is not happening?
Where did you hear that from?
Which scientist said that

This is neither a acknowledgement nor a denial. Remember, one cannot prove a negative. So the onus is on you to prove that evolution is indeed ongoing as we speak.
Who knows, maybe the lizards will turn to snakes in the nearest future, or antelopes to kangaroos.

thesicilian:

Nobody is denying religion, what that statement meant was that religion is not the key point here. If all evidence supports a deliberate intelligent design as against evolutionary development, then the fact that this also aligns with the views of religion doesn't take away any of the merits.

Show me the evidence that supports intelligent design.
Link those evidence to why we have fossil records, new species emerging in recent years, antibiotic resistance, antimalaria resistance, new breeds of animals, coronavirus, emergence of HIV in 1980s. If you secceessfully connect intelligent design of life to this without commiting the fallacy of apealling to ignorance. I will change my mind

When I read, I do so with the intent to understand and make independent analysis. That is what probably differentiates me from many of you who swallow everything hook line and sinker because it was written by a so called theoretical scientist somewhere.

But you are pretty cool with swallowing Tha God made you from sand and ribs. So much for a very informed person

The very same line of argument of those who support religion: there's no other way to make sense out of it unless they were created deliberately by a supreme being. You see the problem now?

I'm not arguing with you, you are arguing with evidence because the evidence disputes your relgious beliefs. Which you have not disputed.

you still don't get the point. And that's probably because you read to just regurgitate to your none-the-wiser victims/readers. Before it was disproved Lamarck was seen as a genius because of his brilliant, infallible theory. It's the same way every single "evidence" in support of evolution keeps failing to hold up to standards everyday. But you won't see it yet though, until a scientist from Oxford or Yale writes it out for you to read.

once again, lamarackian model is stale, it's literally in your modern biology textbook for secondary school student that it's stale. I wonder why you are so stuck in the past

This is neither a acknowledgement nor a denial. Remember, one cannot prove a negative. So the onus is on you to prove that evolution is indeed ongoing as we speak.
Who knows, maybe the lizards will turn to snakes in the nearest future, or antelopes to kangaroos.

There's no negative to prove here, the evidence says that we evolved from prehistoric apes and that's what evidence says, it does not respect your feelings. If you don't like the evidence you can develop a scientific method to disprove it, I'm sure you will win the novel prize for it

iLoveYouToo:


HOW COME WE HAVE NOT EVOLVED FROM THE WAY WE ARE CURRENTLY?

Well, we are evolving but rather slowly. The reason we are evolving slowly is because we have developed various mechanism to keep genes that natural selection would have taken Alive via medicine, engineering and many other innovations. For example, if we didn't develop condoms and medicine surpress HIV infection, natural selection would have taken everyone with HIV susceptibility gene and left those with HIV resistant genes, which is less than 1% of current Huamns population, other animals do not have this advantage hence you can swiftly observe evolution occur in their population. They evolutionary trend would have shifted. However,, here are some evidence for evolution currently occruing withing human race:

Genetic studies have demonstrated that humans are still evolving. To investigate which genes are undergoing natural selection, researchers looked into the data produced by the International HapMap Project and the 1000 Genomes Project.

A catalogue of human genetic variation
The International HapMap and 1000 Genomes Projects both aimed to catalogue genetic variation in DNA samples taken from individual humans from across the world.

The majority of the catalogued human variation is characterised by single base changes, referred to as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The location and frequency of these changes allows us to provide a list of regions in the human genome where genetic variation is common. Patterns of reduced variation help scientists to identify genes that may have recently been positively selected for by natural selection.

How are genetic variants found?

When genetic variants give us a particular advantage and improve our fitness they are more likely to be passed onto future generations.

Genetic variants can be found by comparing the genomes of different people and looking to see where there are differences in the DNA sequence and where the genes are located in their genomes. When genetic variants confer a particular advantage and improve our fitness they are more likely to survive and be passed onto future generations, thus becoming more common in a population. When this happens, a pattern or 'signature' can be found in the genomes of the population. This is because, as a genetic variant starts to spread through a population, it doesn’t come alone but brings with it some nearby genetic ‘passengers’. These passengers are bits of DNA that are located on either side of the advantageous variant. So, if scientists find this signature in lots of genomes in a population, it is one of the first signs that natural selection could be operating. It suggests that they all stem from a common ancestor and have therefore inherited the same pattern of genetic variation.

If the genomes of two populations are found to be very different, it could be a sign that selection has occurred in one population, but not the other. As the advantageous gene starts to become more common, it can influence which other genes are expressed and even reduce the overall level of genetic variation in the surrounding area of the genome, making it stand out.

Unfortunately, even in the absence of selection, any of these patterns can turn up by chance, especially when the whole genome is examined. To make things more complicated, events such as population expansion can mimic some of the same effects. There is no perfect way to recognise where selection has occurred, but we sometimes get a very strong hint.

Scientists have found that the majority of genes that have undergone recent evolution are associated with smell, reproduction, brain development, skin pigmentation and immunity? against pathogens.

Lactose tolerance
In most parts of the world, adults are unable to digest the lactose sugar in milk.

One example of recent natural selection in humans involves the ability to tolerate the sugar, lactose, in milk. In most parts of the world, adults are unable to drink milk because their body switches off the intestinal production of lactase, an enzyme that digests the sugar in the milk, after weaning. As these people cannot digest the lactose sugar they suffer symptoms including bloating, abdominal cramps, flatulence, diarrhoea, nausea, or vomiting.

Yet, more than 70 per cent of European adults can quite happily drink milk. This is because they carry a regulatory change in the region of DNA that controls the expression of the gene that codes for lactase. This DNA change enables the lactase gene to be switched on and lactase production to continue, even after weaning. This genetic change appears to have happened between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago, which is around the same time domestication of milk-producing farm animals, such as cows, was established in Europe.

This suggests that being able to drink milk into adulthood provided a strong evolutionary advantage in Europe. This may be because sun exposure was much lower in Europe and people were in greater need of the vitamin D found in cow’s milk. Or it may be because cow’s milk provides a much safer and cleaner alternative to drinking water that may cause disease. Milk may also have prevented death from starvation when crops failed and food was scarce. Those who could not tolerate lactose would die of starvation, while those who could tolerate lactose would survive.

Whatever the reason, a strong selection pressure must have favoured those people whose lactase gene remained switched on. This variant of the lactase gene is so common in Europeans that we now consider lactose intolerance to be a health condition, rather than the natural process that it is.

Infectious disease
“People who are able to survive infections are more likely to pass on their genes to their offspring.

The strongest evolutionary pressure of all comes from infectious diseases. Millions of people die from infectious diseases each year, particularly in the poorer regions of the world. People who are able to survive infections are more likely to pass on their genes to their offspring. However, genes that provide an advantage against one disease may not provide an advantage when faced with another.

The Caspase-12 gene

When infectious diseases became more common in human populations, perhaps because populations grew in size and pathogens were able to spread more rapidly, people with a genetic advantage were more likely to survive and reproduce. As a result, these genetic advantages were selected for, allowing more people to survive and fight disease. In some cases, a genetic advantage resulted from losing the full activity of a gene.

A good example of this is the caspase-12 gene. Caspase-12 works as a part of our immune system, responding specifically to bacterial infection.

“It was suggested that the caspase-12 gene was gradually inactivated in the human population because the active gene can result in a poorer response to bacterial infection.

In a study carried out by researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in 2005, it was suggested that the caspase-12 gene was gradually inactivated in the human population because the active gene can result in a poorer response to bacterial infection. People with fully functional caspase-12 were at a much higher risk of a fatal bacterial infection (sepsis) if bacteria entered the bloodstream, than people with the inactive version of the gene.

Before improved hygiene and antibiotics, survival of severe sepsis would have been a strong selective force for the inactive gene, which would have been greatly favoured. Today, people with two copies of the inactive gene are eight times more likely to escape severe sepsis if suffering with an infectious disease and three times more likely to survive.

But the study leaves us with a key question. If it is so good to have the inactive gene, why did our ancestors have an active form in the first place? It may be because in some areas of the world having the active gene carries an equal advantage to carrying the inactive gene in other areas of the world. What is clear however, is that all organisms are dynamic and will continue to adapt to their unique environments to continue being successful. In short, we are still evolving.

HIV susceptibility

It was found that women with a certain combination of variants were better at clearing HIV infection than others.

HIV is a modern-day driving force for human evolution. In certain parts of South Africa, nearly half of women are infected with the virus. In a study in Durban, Dr Philip Goulder and colleagues from the University of Oxford found that women with a certain combination of variants in a human leukocyte antigen (HLA-B27) were better at clearing HIV infection than those with the HLA-A or HLA-C genetic subtypes. HLAs, produced by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), are by far the most variable region of the human genome, and are an essential part of the immune system. Infected mothers with HIV-protective HLA-B genes were more likely to survive HIV infection and pass on these genes to their children.

It has been proposed that the relatively low level of HIV in Western Europe is aided by a common variation in a co-receptor for the HIV virus particle (CCR5). This variant protects people almost completely against HIV and is found in 13 per cent of Europeans. However it is extremely rare in other populations around the world, including Africans. The origin of the variant in humans dates back thousands of years ago, well before the AIDS epidemic? which only dates from the late 1970s. It is therefore likely that this variant may have been selected because it protects against other viral or bacterial infections.

Workch:
The first comprehensive comparison of the genetic blueprints of humans and chimpanzees shows our closest living relatives share perfect identity with 96 percent of our DNA sequence, an international research consortium reported today.

In a paper published in the Sept. 1 issue of the journal Nature, the Chimpanzee Sequencing and Analysis Consortium, which is supported in part by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), describes its landmark analysis comparing the genome of the chimp (Pan troglodytes) with that of human (Homo sapiens).

"The sequencing of the chimp genome is a historic achievement that is destined to lead to many more exciting discoveries with implications for human health," said NHGRI Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. "As we build upon the foundation laid by the Human Genome Project, it's become clear that comparing the human genome with the genomes of other organisms is an enormously powerful tool for understanding our own biology."

The chimp sequence draft represents the first non-human primate genome and the fourth mammalian genome described in a major scientific publication. A draft of the human genome sequence was published in February 2001, a draft of the mouse genome sequence was published in December 2002 and a draft of the rat sequence was published in March 2004. The essentially complete human sequence was published in October 2004.

"As our closest living evolutionary relatives, chimpanzees are especially suited to teach us about ourselves," said the study's senior author, Robert Waterston, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Genome Sciences of the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. "We still do not have in our hands the answer to a most fundamental question: What makes us human? But this genomic comparison dramatically narrows the search for the key biological differences between the species."

The 67 researchers who took part in the Chimp Sequencing and Analysis Consortium share authorship of the Nature paper. Most of the work of sequencing and assembling the chimp genome was done at the Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., and the Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis. In addition to those centers, the consortium included researchers from institutions elsewhere in the United States, as well as Israel, Italy, Germany and Spain.

The DNA used to sequence the chimp genome came from the blood of a male chimpanzee named Clint at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta. Clint died last year from heart failure at the relatively young age of 24, but two cell lines from the primate have been preserved at the Coriell Institute for Medical Research in Camden, N.J.

where is your reference?

thesicilian:
Human beings were created separately by God in His own image, we did not evolve from apes

Spinoza's God, actually.

With Gods being just Avatars of the Super Programmers, aka Higher Selves aka Alien ETs.

topcatking:
Well, now that you have confirmed that you are an ape and a d3scendant of monkeys... (no insult, I'm just paraphrasing your belief). Here's a quick question for you:

Humanity (and indeed the human body) has been as is for thousands of years ... Why has "your" evolution stalled/stopped?

One would postulate that we would have evolved physical mechanisms to cope with the environment , to fly... to protect against the sun...to generally be more....optimised for life on the planet, alas... these are pipe dreams.

So...my gorilla-friend, I think you should go back to your studies, apply your mind, and all will be revealed.

Peace.

science says human are higher animals yet science said human evolved from one of the lesser animals. confusing.

human evolved from apes yet the ape specie that produce man is still in existence. another mind bugging thought.

ALWAYS STORY, STORY!
STILL EMPTY UNSUBSTANTIATED STORIES!!
LIE UPON LIE!!!
THEN MORE LIES!!!!
AND THEN MORE COLOURFUL RHETORICAL GRAMMY WORDS!!!!
SUPPORTED BY ANTI-GOD PAID BY SELF-WILLED PERSONALITIES WHO SPONSOR THE SO CALLED IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITIES WHO DEVELOPE TEXTBOOKS AND FORCE IT ON INNOCENT SOULS SIMPLY TO DISCREDIT THE ETERNAL CREATOR
AND THEN GRADUATE THESE BEINGS AS ENTERTAINERS, MEDIA AGENTS, ACADEMICS, LEFTIST POLITICIANS AND AND ALL!
EVOLUTION MY FOOT!

thesicilian:
Human beings were created separately by God in His own image, we did not evolve from apes

NO VISION CAN SEE GOD

No wonder some nairaland women resemble ape. Make we no mention thier name. Make I no wake vawulence wey pass me

thesicilian:
Human beings were created separately by God in His own image, we did not evolve from apes

maybe op evolved from ape family : :Dl

OP it's you that's an ape.
An eagles claw and a parrot claw are almost alike, but that doesn't in any way make a parrot a former EAGLE.


ITS LAUGHABLE TRYING TO PROVE YPUR SLAVE MASTERS RIGHT ALL THE TIME THAT WE CANT THINK FOR OURSELVES AND OUTSIDE THE BOX.

THIS IS THE REAL MENTAL SLAVERY

topcatking:
Well, now that you have confirmed that you are an ape and a d3scendant of monkeys... (no insult, I'm just paraphrasing your belief). Here's a quick question for you:

Humanity (and indeed the human body) has been as is for thousands of years ... Why has "your" evolution stalled/stopped?

One would postulate that we would have evolved physical mechanisms to cope with the environment , to fly... to protect against the sun...to generally be more....optimised for life on the planet, alas... these are pipe dreams.

So...my gorilla-friend, I think you should go back to your studies, apply your mind, and all will be revealed.

Peace.

You took this response from my mouth.

Now that is plagiarism. Give you a hug.

Op we may have striking similarities but the truth still remains that humans didn't evolve from it.

SpiritLifeNG:



where is your reference?

The reference is literally in the post. Did you read it at all?

How can you understand anything if you can't even read my post?

projectpro:
Op we may have striking similarities but the truth still remains that humans didn't evolve from it.

We did, that's what all evidence says. Included transitional fossils, same protein and genes, same metabolism, receptors and every form of biochemical component. It will be very ridiculous after seeing all these to say we didn't evolve because some people don't like it. We are not gaining anything from lying about evolution.
We are telling you what we are seeing because we have been trained for several years to study these things, it's up to you to accept reality or deny it

SEGLIZ:

science says human are higher animals yet science said human evolved from one of the lesser animals. confusing.

human evolved from apes yet the ape specie that produce man is still in existence. another mind bugging thought.

Humans didn't evolve from apes, humans are apes.
The ape species humans evolved from are extinct. Look up and make research, you won't die if you read

topcatking:
Well, now that you have confirmed that you are an ape and a d3scendant of monkeys... (no insult, I'm just paraphrasing your belief). Here's a quick question for you:

Humanity (and indeed the human body) has been as is for thousands of years ... Why has "your" evolution stalled/stopped?

One would postulate that we would have evolved physical mechanisms to cope with the environment , to fly... to protect against the sun...to generally be more....optimised for life on the planet, alas... these are pipe dreams.

So...my gorilla-friend, I think you should go back to your studies, apply your mind, and all will be revealed.

Peace.

It wouldn't hurt your brain, if you read. To even say human beings has stopped evolving, and be so bold about it, shows how deliberately ignorant you are about how evolution works.