Why are Chimps Still Chimps?

Norman A. Johnson; James J. Smith; Briana Pobiner; Caitlin Schrein

doi:10.1525/abt.2012.74.2.3

How to translate text using browser tools

1 February 2012 Why are Chimps Still Chimps?

Norman A. Johnson, James J. Smith, Briana Pobiner, Caitlin Schrein

Author Affiliations +

The American Biology Teacher, 74(2):74-80 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2012.74.2.3

Abstract

Teachers may be posed with such questions as, “If we evolved from chimps, why arc there still chimps?” We provide teachers with answers to this and related questions in the context of the latest genetic, fossil, and behavioral evidence. We also provide references they can use to further students' understanding of human evolution and evolution in general. In the process, we highlight recent discoveries in paleontology, molecular evolution, and comparative genomics. Modern chimps and humans shared a now extinct common ancestor that was neither a chimp nor a human — in other words, humans did not evolve from chimps — and, though chimps are humans' closest living relatives, we arc characterized by distinct evolutionary histories.

©2012 by National Association of Biology Teachers. All rights reserved. Request permission to photocopy or reproduce article content at the University of California Press's Rights and Permissions Web site at www.ucpressjournals.com/reprintinfo.asp.

Citation Download Citation

Norman A. Johnson, James J. Smith, Briana Pobiner, and Caitlin Schrein "Why are Chimps Still Chimps?," The American Biology Teacher 74(2), 74-80, (1 February 2012). https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2012.74.2.3

Published: 1 February 2012

KEYWORDS/PHRASES

PUBLICATION TITLE:

COLLECTION TITLE:

PUBLICATION YEARS