Question

[Lusche]

Better question...  If we evolved from Chimps, why are there still millions of Chimps?  

But we didn't

Genetic mutations are still occurring.

At our max!?  No way, why stop now?

Thinking humans are in control of nature is absurd.  We are at the whim of nature's will.

And it's only human mind that thinks in categories like "at the max", "top of the ladder" and so on.

[chaser]

I think if evolution actually existed humans would have developed wings by now. To me the belief that an animal can change a part on its body over time because it needs it is absurd. The animal has no access to it's genetical code, let alone the ability to change it.

[Karnak]

Better question...  If we evolved from Chimps, why are there still millions of Chimps?  

We didn't evolve from Chimpanzees, they are simply the closest relate living species to us.  Both Humans and Chimpanzees shared a common ancestor about six million years ago.  Both Humans and Chimpanzees evolved from that species.

I think if evolution actually existed humans would have developed wings by now. To me the belief that an animal can change a part on its body over time because it needs it is absurd. The animal has no access to it's genetical code, let alone the ability to change it.

You're right, that would be absurd.  However, outside of the Soviet Union, that has nothing to do with evolution.  Evolution is not a willful act, it is simply playing the odds.  Cheetahs that are slightly faster are more likely to produce offspring than cheetahs that are slightly slower.  Over generations this makes the genes for the faster cheetah to be more common, eventually to the elimination of the slower cheetah genes.

[Shuffler]

Evolving stopped and revolving started. You can tell everyone you heard it here first.

[F22RaptorDude]

Evolving stopped and revolving started. You can tell everyone you heard it here first.

More like devolving

[Jayhawk]

I think if evolution actually existed humans would have developed wings by now. To me the belief that an animal can change a part on its body over time because it needs it is absurd. The animal has no access to it's genetical code, let alone the ability to change it.

If this is trolling, you got me, but seriously?

This tells me you just don't understand how evolution works.

[F22RaptorDude]

If this is trolling, you got me, but seriously?

This tells me you just don't understand how evolution works.

Its called adaptation, your genetics make changes to best suit your enviroment without your control, you don't get a say so, am I right?

[Karnak]

Its called adaptation, your genetics make changes to best suit your enviroment without your control, you don't get a say so, am I right?

No, you're not right.  You are stuck with the genetics you're born with.

Imagine a bunch of chameleons.

Some have a long tongue gene A and some a short tongue gene B, some have independent eye gene X and some have eyes that aren't independent gene Y.  So, you have AX, AY, BX and BY chameleons.

When they reproduce each passes on their genes, for example a AX mating with a BX will produce offspring that are either AX or BX, both parents providing the X and the offspring having a 50/50 chance of getting a long or short tongue, A or B gene.

The ones with A and X genes have a competitive advantage as they are better hunters than the ones with B and Y.  Because they are better hunters they are more likely to live to produce offspring and thus more likely to pass their genes on to the next generation.  The chameleons with AX really lucked out, they have both advantages and a higher percentage of them will live to pass on their genes than any other combination.  The AY and BX chameleons don't have it all, but they each have a strength.   The poor BY lizards are going to face an uphill battle though, and some will win it, but a higher percentage of them will fail and die without reproducing than the other combinations.

Gradually, over many generations, the B and Y genes will disappear from the gene pool due to this natural selection.  No matter how hard the poor BY chameleons try or how much they need them to survive, they will never have long tongues or independent eyes.

[F22RaptorDude]

I should really pay more attention in Biology, then again its 1 in the morning, my brain is fried and in weekend mode

[Jayhawk]

A lot of people confuse the concepts of natural selection and evolution, using them interchangeably.  Karnak explained it pretty well, but organisms have no choice in evolution, they are simply subject to nature's mutations. 

No doubt humans have more impact on environment than they used to, and natural selection isn't as obvious, but it still exists.  The impact humans have on their own natural selection has changed, but relative to how long evolution works, it's been a pretty small time.

[Tigger29]

A lot of people confuse the concepts of natural selection and evolution, using them interchangeably.  Karnak explained it pretty well, but organisms have no choice in evolution, they are simply subject to nature's mutations. 

No doubt humans have more impact on environment than they used to, and natural selection isn't as obvious, but it still exists.  The impact humans have on their own natural selection has changed, but relative to how long evolution works, it's been a pretty small time.

That's the whole key right there.  It's only been a couple hundred of years since mankind has reached the "industrial" era.. however evolution takes place over millions of years.  Simply put we just can't imagine a time span long enough to explain how evolution works which is a big reason people often have trouble truly understanding it.

My biggest issue is that we allow (and in some cases encourage) weaker traits to thrive but still.. mother nature has a way of correcting things.  We just may not like how she does it...