Origin of Man

The Origin of Man

Similarities:

1. Their DNA is very similar.

2. Both have spinal cords.

3. Both have the same kind of bones.

4. Both have basically the same muscles.

5. Both have a nervous system.

6. Both have the same number of fingers and toes.

The Unique Nature of Humans

Primates and humans are similar in a number of ways. However, to get a better understanding of the unique natures of both primates and humans, let’s consider how they differ from one another.

Let’s look at some differences listed on the sciencing.com website:

1. Hands

Thumbs

Both primate and human hands have opposable thumbs, or thumbs that can move to touch the other four digits on the hand. But the human thumb is longer, more muscular and more mobile than the primate thumb. The longer human thumb would be a hindrance for primates, getting in the way of the hook-like grasp they need for swinging from the trees.

Fingers

Each hand features four fingers in addition to the opposable thumb, but the human fingers are shorter and flatter. The primate's longer, curved fingers assist with the animal's ability to swing through the trees.

Prints

The human hand and primate hand both have fingerprints and palm-prints, or palmar whorls, but the prints differ. Human fingerprints have a higher ride density than primate fingerprints, which means the print ridges, or lines, are closer together. While the human’s prints are denser, primates usually have more lines overall. Primate palms also have more creases, or simian lines, than the human palm, the Your Fingernails website says.

Movement

The human hand is much more mobile than the primate hand, according to the Journal of Anatomy. Humans can fully rotate their hands as well as extend and flex their hands at the wrist. Primates--especially those that walk on the knuckles of their hands--are not as flexible with their hand movements. The wrist bones of the knuckle-walkers keep their hands from bending or extending while they put pressure on their knuckles.

2. Arms

Humans have the ability to twist the upper arm bone for throwing. Primates throw very poorly, despite being very strong and athletic.

Adult male chimps can only throw objects about 20 mph. About one-third of the speed of a 12-year-old child who is a good thrower. The human shoulder is at a lower position on the torso which efficiently utilizes the energy stored in the tendons and ligaments.

3. Face

4. Feet

5. Eyes

Humans have white around their irises whereas primates usually have a dark brown color.

6. Brain

The human brain is three times larger than an ape or chimp brain.

7. Neck

The fact that humans have many more head and neck muscles than primates do, leads to a much higher number of head and neck musculoskeletal structures overall.

8. Pelvis

A chimp pelvis for example is too tall to rotate independently of their upper half as it would bump into their ribcage. Humans have a shorter hip that allows them to twist their top and bottom halves individually, making it easier to walk upright efficiently.

Chimp Pelvis Human Pelvis

9. Ribs

Human ribs are barrel-shaped; and primate ribs are funnel-shaped.

10. How They Walk

11. Skulls

12. Teeth

Primate teeth are much bigger than human teeth.

Besides those differences: nervous system, hair, hips, jaw, spine, chimps are two to three times stronger than humans, declarative language skills, human intelligence, the control of fire, human desire to teach, technological advancement, sociability, facial expression, diet, long-term relationships, etc.

In Conclusion:

Although there are some similarities in appearance between primates and humans, they are uniquely different in many other ways. Having just one common ancestor is hard to imagine.

At this present time, all fossils that have been considered “missing links” have been determined to be:

1. Completely ape, no relation to humans.

2. Completely human, no relation to apes.

3. Deliberate frauds or hoaxes.

Examples:

Piltdown man – human skull and ape teeth

Nebraska man – 1 tooth of a wild pig

Neandertal man – completely human

Cro-Magnon man – completely human

Australopithecines – African ape

Lucy – a chimpanzee

One bone thought to be a human collarbone turned out to be a dolphin rib. Some people who lived in “caves” turned out to be very intelligent.

Two Worldview Interpretations:

Undirected Process Formation

Life forms share common traits and body parts with other life forms because they had a common ancestor.

Directed Purpose Formation

Life forms share common traits and body parts with other life forms because of similar purpose and design.