Religion and Ethics Forum
Religion and Ethics Discussion => Philosophy, in all its guises. => Topic started by: Sriram on August 02, 2017, 07:21:56 AM
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Hi everyone,
We all know that we are genetically very close to our animal cousins. 98.8 % of our DNA is identical with chimps. So, are we 98.8% chimps? No! So, how is it that we are so different?
There is obviously much more to all this than merely matching DNA. The differences between humans and chimps are so large that the above number is clearly not the only parameter to consider while measuring the similarities.
It is like saying that today's latest computer is 98.8% similar to the 286 of the 1980'S....just because the box and the plastic and the metal content are similar. The incremental increase in capacity is very high with every model. More importantly, the software being used is much more complex than that in early models.
Similarly, the mental capabilities in humans is much more than in chimps and that cannot be measured entirely in terms of DNA.
The differences could be largely epigenetc and dependent on gene expression or maybe many other factors that we don't know of yet.
In other words, merely because we have 98.8% of the DNA similar to chimps does not mean we can keep thinking of ourselves as 98.8% chimps. No...we are very different and the differences clearly outweigh the similarities....(whatever the underlying biological or non biological reasons may be).
Just some thoughts.
Cheers.
Sriram
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I think the similarities clearly outweigh the differences, so where do we go from here?
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I think the similarities clearly outweigh the differences, so where do we go from here?
Asda.
To buy some more bananas of course!
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Asda.
To buy some more bananas of course!
ROFLMAO
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Asda.
To buy some more bananas of course!
Cannibal!
:)
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Sririam -
In other words, merely because we have 98.8% of the DNA similar to chimps does not mean we can keep thinking of ourselves as 98.8% chimps. No...we are very different and the differences clearly outweigh the similarities....(whatever the underlying biological or non biological reasons may be).
Do people go around thinking of themselves as 98.8% chimp or bonobo? Or 98% gorilla?
I doubt it very much. All it means is we are part of the animal kingdom and we know that.
Now for a nice cup of PG Tips.
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Sririam -
In other words, merely because we have 98.8% of the DNA similar to chimps does not mean we can keep thinking of ourselves as 98.8% chimps. No...we are very different and the differences clearly outweigh the similarities....(whatever the underlying biological or non biological reasons may be).
Do people go around thinking of themselves as 98.8% chimp or bonobo? Or 98% gorilla?
I doubt it very much. All it means is we are part of the animal kingdom and we know that.
Now for a nice cup of PG Tips.
It is not just about being classified as 'animal' or whatever. The point is that mere DNA matching does not tell us much. It is not enough.
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Not enough for what? Small differences in DNA can lead to large differences in function as most of the DNA relates to common characteristics.