Quote:
Originally Posted by ADL Colin
The researchers found that 233 chimp genes compared with only 154 human genes (out of 13,888 genes) "has been changed by selection since chimps and humans split from their common ancestor about 6 million years ago".
What the article doesn't say is that chimps have 24 pairs of chromosomes. Humans only have 23.
Which is more of a change? The difference in the number of genes or the dropping off an entire independent chromosome?
Neither change means "more evolved". what does "more evolved" mean? Better suited to its environment?
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I think they're defining "more evolved" as "more genetically deviant from the common ancestor"
I forgot about the extra chromosome. That'd also explain for the 'more evolved' thing because a good deal of the genetic mutations that develop (i.e. "evolution") do so when the chromosomes split during cleavage, if memory serves, giving them another shot that we don't have at developing a mutation every go.
Since no one knows how many chromosomes the common ancestor had, it's hard to say if we dropped one, or chimps picked one up.
Regardless, I'm not worried about superchimps too much...
