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
>
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