Dear Carol,

We share over 99% of our genome with the bonobos, our closest primate 
relative, and they, like most of the other anthropoids eat virtually no meat.

Of course you are right, that one percent still accounts for some significant 
differences.   However, what's important from the standpoint of diet is not 
whether or not we are covered with fur, have large or small jaws, recessed 
eye sockets, are 3 or 6 feet tall, or have the vocal chords to make human 
sounds.   From the standpoint of diet, the things that are most important are 
the digestive tract (relative length, shape, structures, function, enzymes, 
acid/alkaline reactions, dental formula, type of molars, type of stomach, 
strength of stomach acid, ability to process large amounts of uric acid and 
other toxic by-products of protein digestion, etc.) and other anatomical 
differences directly related to diet, ie, lack of claws and/or fangs, etc.   

In these critical ways, we are identical to the anthropoid primates.

Incidentally, the theory I'm familiar with says that the gorillas seperated 
off from us before the chimps and bonobos did, so we are closer to the chimps 
and bonobos, with whom we share more DNA.   Some primatologists argue that we 
split off from those two remaining primates before they had differentiated, 
so that we are in fact equally related to both.   Others argue that we share 
more DNA with bonobos, more physiology, and that their brains function more 
like ours (it is virtually always bonobos, not chimps who have been most 
successful at learning our language, etc), making them our defacto closest 
relative.

In any case, we are closer to bonobos and chimps then they are to gorillas.   
And again, it is really not SO important anyway how similar we are overall, 
but rather how are bodies have evolved over time with regard to the digestive 
tract and the items mentioned above.

You are right: it does seem like an easy answer.   Remember Occam's Razor, 
Carol; "All other things being equal, the simplest explanation is usually 
true."

Namaste,

Loren


In a message dated 3/8/2003 10:40:22 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:


> We've all heard the anatomical arguments that humans can't be
> carnivores many, many times before, I'll wager.  Can it really be so
> easy, though?  We humans are very odd in many ways.  To say that the
> sharing of (what is it?) 98% of our genome with chimps means we should
> eat the same food ignores the HUGE physical differences that such a
> small genetic difference can obviously result in.  Would you ever
> mistake a human for a chimp? :D
> 
> Besides, chimps and gorillas are even closer, genetically, and yet
> they are quite different from each other, dietarily.  I don't have any
> scientific references; I'm just saying that it strikes me as too easy
> an answer. 
> 
> Carol
>