Do you know who Neil Tyson, or Neil deGrasse Tyson, is? Tyson is a very intelligent man. He is an astrophysicist. Since 2006, Tyson has been the host of the TV Science program, Nova.
I recently saw a Video on which Neil Tyson talked about the difference between a human and a chimpanzee. According to Tyson, the difference in the DNA of a human and a chimpanzee is only around 1% or so. Even though we share nearly 99% identical DNA, humans have been able to use that 1% difference to do some incredible things. As Tyson pointed out in the Video, the most intelligent chip can maybe do a little bit of sign language in order to communicate with humans. Human beings, though, have accomplished mind boggling feats such as deploying the Hubble Space Telescope. Yet, our difference in DNA is only about 5% between the two species. Amazing.
Tyson went on to point out and discuss what it would be like if, in our search for intelligent life, what if we found another species who shared 99% of DNA with us humans, but had that extra 1% that would make them more intelligent than we are? How would that change things? Would the newly discovered species even have an interest in communicating with is, or would we be just like an insect or some unintelligent life form to them?
Chimpanzee
Tyson has a point here. Frankly, I never thought about it, and really, I don’t think I ever realized that chimpanzee DNA is only 1% different than our human DNA. It’s fascinating to learn about this. That 1% difference pronounces itself in a huge different in our skill sets, even though 1% is a tiny difference.
In your daily life, maybe when you were bored, did your mind ever wander and the thought came to you “what do other life forms think of us?” It occurs to me on a somewhat frequent basis. For example, were you ever out in your yard and your dog is there.. what does a dog think of us? Do they think of us much like we would think of God? What about ants, flies or other insects, what are they thinking when they come in contact with us? It’s a strange question, but interesting nonetheless. Don’t you think? I do.
I know that the genome of man has been uncovered, but I was not aware of the genome of chimpanzees, and consequently the comparison of the structure of both. Also, almost all evolutionist talk about man being related uses the hypothetical 96 to 98 percentile of similarity. I'm not sure where Mr. Tyson arrived at the new 99 percentile range, or who's work he cited, since he is not a geneticist or a microbiologist. Mr. Tyson is an astrophysist, and I have listened to many of his lectures on the universe. I know he is a proponet of evolution, yet I do not know where he arrived up with this new number of 99% similarities.
Although it has been a while, I can remember the talk about how the similarities of jellyfish and clouds, since they are believed to be composed of 98% water. Should we conclude that they are somehow related? We do know that watermelons are at least 94% water, so maybe they are related to clouds and jellyfish also?
Hi Armando – Actually I don't believe in Evolution. I am a Christian, and I believe in Creationism. I don't consider what I wrote in this article to have anything to do with Evolution. In fact, the fact that there is similarity in DNA, whatever the percentage is, between humans and chimpanzees, that does not necessarily mean that humans evolved from the chimp. In the end, Armando, I think that your beliefs on evolution and mine are probably nearly identical.
Regarding the last part of your comment, Armando… keep in mind that nowhere in my article did I say anything at all about chimps and humans being related at all in any way.
No problem Bob,and even if you did believe in evolution you have a right to say what you believe, and with that being said I am glad you were not trying to make a monkey out of me, and the rest of humanity.
I understand, Armando, and I agree that everybody has a right to express their beliefs. Don't worry, I would never try to make a monkey out of you or anybody else. Sometimes, without trying, I make myself look like a monkey, though!
hey….monkeys are cool…they amuse while we imbibe!
Ha ha… true.
Great article; now if we could only figure out how to manage (or parse) that 1%.
With all of the conflict in the world, one would think that the 1% doesn't make much difference after all. But has that theory really been explored?
Ha ha.. very true, pat.