PARADOXICAL

 If evolution is real, why are there still monkeys? Scientists reveal the surprising answer

Story by Wiliam Hunter • 11mo • 6 min read

When you learned about the history of human evolution in school, there's a good chance you were shown one all-too-familiar image. 

That picture probably showed a conga line of human-like creatures, from a primitive ape at one end to a modern man proudly strolling into the future at the other. 

For many people, this iconic image captures evolution's slow but inevitable march from the simple to the complex.

But it also raises a puzzling question: If this really is how evolution works, then why are there still monkeys and apes? 

Surely, if humans evolved out of primates, there's no reason that so many species should have remained so primitive.

While it might be easy to dismiss this as a trivial question, the answer actually reveals a fascinating detail of our shared evolutionary history. 

In fact, it uncovers what scientists have called a 'widespread and persistent misconception' about the nature of human evolution.

So, Daily Mail asked some of the leading experts to explain why we might need to rethink our place in the evolutionary lineup. 

It's a common thought that many people have about evolution, but now scientists have given their answer to why monkeys and other apes still exist if humans evolved from them (stock image) 

It's a common thought that many people have about evolution, but now scientists have given their answer to why monkeys and other apes still exist if humans evolved from them (stock image) 

If evolution is real, why are there still monkeys? 

One common view of evolution is that it is a linear process which takes primitive species and slowly brings them closer to perfection.

Unfortunately, this is a greatly simplified perception of how evolution really works.

Professor Ruth Mace, an expert on human evolution from University College London, told Daily Mail: 'Think of the evolutionary process as tree-like. All living species are at the tips of the branches.

'Humans and monkeys are on branches that separated at some point. Both branches still exist.'

If we were to trace those branches back in time through the generations, we would eventually find that they merge into a single species. 

Modern humans' closest living relatives are chimpanzees and bonobos, with whom we share about 98.7 per cent of our DNA.

We also share a lot of common traits with our primate relatives, including anatomical features, complex social hierarchies, and problem-solving skills. 

Bonobos (pictured) and chimpanzees are humans' closest relatives, with whom we share over 98 per cent of our DNA. However, evolution experts say we didn't really evolve from these primate species 

Bonobos (pictured) and chimpanzees are humans' closest relatives, with whom we share over 98 per cent of our DNA. However, evolution experts say we didn't really evolve from these primate species 

If humans evolved from primates, why are there still monkeys?

Humans didn't evolve from any of the monkey or primate species that we see today.

Although we do share a lot of DNA with some species, up to 98 per cent in some cases, that is because we have a common ancestor.

Between six and ten million years ago, a population of primates split into those that would become chimpanzees and bonobos and those that would become humans.

Humans and monkeys are just different branches of the same evolutionary tree, but there's no reason that one needed to disappear for the other to emerge.

It might be easy, therefore, to think that modern humans evolved from a group of chimpanzees or bonobos, leaving the rest of the species behind on a lower rung of the evolutionary ladder. 

However, modern genetic data shows that this isn't the case. 

Anthropologists currently think that humans split from the family containing bonobos and chimpanzees somewhere between six to 10 million years ago.

Scientists call the species at that branching point our 'last common ancestor'. 

When scientists talk about early humans like the Neanderthals and Homo erectus, it can seem like modern humans replaced all the species that came before them.

This creates a misconception that every earlier species either evolved to be more human-like or died out.  

However, since Darwin's 'tree of life' doesn't grow straight up like a beanstalk, but spreads like a bush, there are also lots of evolutionary 'dead ends'. 

Neanderthals are just another branch that split away from our latest common ancestor that lived sometime between 800,000 and 100,000 years ago. 

Humans branched off from the chimpanzees (pictured) and bonobos about six to 10 million years ago. They are not earlier stages on the path towards humanity, but ends of a different branch in the evolutionary tree

Humans branched off from the chimpanzees (pictured) and bonobos about six to 10 million years ago. They are not earlier stages on the path towards humanity, but ends of a different branch in the evolutionary tree

Most of the branches on the human family tree were evolutionary dead ends. The other human species, such as Neanderthals (pictured), eventually died off, but not because they evolved into humans 

Most of the branches on the human family tree were evolutionary dead ends. The other human species, such as Neanderthals (pictured), eventually died off, but not because they evolved into humans 

But there's no reason that any of those other branches necessarily had to go extinct; they just took different paths to our own. 

Why haven't monkeys become as smart as humans?  

Our evolutionary story is one of gradually improving sophistication, particularly when it comes to intelligence.

This intelligence has allowed human beings to flourish in a way no other species ever has before, pushing many other primate species close to extinction.

But if our intelligence is such a massive evolutionary advantage, why haven't our close relatives also evolved to be just as smart? 

While our intelligence might seem extremely important to us, it simply isn't necessary for other species to succeed, experts said.

Professor Mace explained: 'If you live in the rainforest in groups of primates that mostly eat plant matter, then the kind of intelligence you need is not necessarily the same kind of intelligence you need if you are a carnivore who needs to hunt large prey in groups on the savannah.'

That means there's no reason for monkeys to have evolved into a more human-like species.  

Chimpanzees are extremely intelligent and well-adapted to their environment. Scientists say there is no reason that they would need to evolve the kind of intelligence found in humans 

Chimpanzees are extremely intelligent and well-adapted to their environment. Scientists say there is no reason that they would need to evolve the kind of intelligence found in humans 

Why didn't apes become as smart as humans?

Apes like chimpanzees never evolved human-level intelligence because they don't need to.

Chimpanzees are highly intelligent, showing abilities to form complex social groups, use tools, and even follow fashion trends.

However, the kind of intelligence that is required to live in the forest and eat fruit is very different from that needed to hunt large animals.

Since humans evolved in very different circumstances, we needed to be much more cooperative.

Chimpanzees don't need those abilities to thrive in their environment so they never developed them.

In fact, when it comes to evolutionary 'success', human intelligence isn't all that it's cracked up to be. 

Dr John Rowan, assistant professor of human evolution at the University of Cambridge, told Daily Mail: 'Chimpanzees and bonobos do very well in their respective niches, so why not ask the reverse question: Why haven’t humans evolved to be more like chimpanzees or bonobos?

'Bonobos in particular do not engage in large-scale intergroup violence and killing, whereas we humans are constantly consumed by conflict and warfare—why haven’t we evolved to be more like bonobos?'

Contrary to common belief, humanity is not the goal towards which evolution is striving.

'It’s often assumed that the human version of a trait must be the "best", but that’s almost never the case,' says Dr Rowan.

'Humans have many interesting adaptations, but we must remember that so do all the other billions of species we share the planet with. And many are far more remarkable than human adaptations humans have!'

Could monkeys evolve into humans in the future?

However, although monkeys and apes don't have any reason to evolve human-like intelligence at the moment, that might not always be the case.

In the very far future, scientists say that some primate species could evolve to be more human-like in a Planet of the Apes-style scenario. However, that species might not resemble humans today 

In the very far future, scientists say that some primate species could evolve to be more human-like in a Planet of the Apes-style scenario. However, that species might not resemble humans today 

In the far future, or if humans were to disappear from the planet, there could be an evolutionary niche which some primate evolves to fill.

Professor Mace says: 'Every mutation happens by chance, but if species live in similar environments, there are plenty of examples of convergent evolution.

'So it is entirely possible that something not too different from ourselves could evolve, but it is not inevitable as the environment is bound to be slightly different.'

That means, a Planet of the Apes-style scenario is not entirely inconceivable in the extremely distant future. 

However, whatever creature did emerge from that lengthy process of evolution might not look anything like humans as we recognise them.

Dr Edwin de Jager, a biological anthropologist from the University of Cambridge, told Daily Mail: 'Evolution doesn’t repeat itself exactly, but given enough time and the right pressures, it’s possible that some primates could evolve greater intelligence or more human-like traits.

'But they wouldn’t become human, I think they’d be something entirely new.'

posted by Resty Odon  # 3:49 PM