Thursday, May 05, 2005
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Have you ever heard someone say that human beings and apes, or monkeys, or orangutans, share 97%, or 96%, or 99% of their DNA? While this is true, the statement is a bit misleading.
Those who use this statement aren't just saying that we share a lot of DNA with other primates for the fun of it. What they're saying is that primates are our close relatives and that we have certain obligations to them or we need to do more research or protect them because of this.
It may be true that we would benefit from more research, or from protecting them, and I certainly wouldn't argue that there isn't something more human about a primate than you might find in a starfish. However, to bring up how much DNA we share with them doesn't support whatever it is the person making the statement wants to support. Why not?
Because we also happen to share about the same amount of DNA with lab rats, cows, sloths, Michael Jackson, and fruit flies. It's true, go look it up. And next time someone starts talking about African great apes and how we should protect them and "Did you know we share 99% of our DNA with them?" just calmly respond "Yes, but I also share 99% of my DNA with William Shatner and you don't see me donating money to build a nature reserve for him."
Labels: Muse
'Ain at 19:53
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Let your indifference be heard -
Location: Singapore
"People perceive me as somewhat tempestuous.
Although "Heinous bitch" is a term I'd like them to use more often."
