3 replies to this topic

[Cousin Ricky]

These diagrams do not address the theory of natural selection, the evidence for evolution, or the causes of speciation. They are intended to address certain misconceptions about macroevolution. Different colors are proxies for snapshots of populations at various points in time.
 
(Preliminary pop quiz: A still from Star Wars shows Chewbacca and Princess Leia. Which one is the monkey?)



Actually, phylogenetically speaking, monkeys do give birth to humans, because phylogenetically, humans are monkeys. As AronRa points out, to define “monkey” as any anthropoid except apes is a Freudian admission that we already know that we are one of them.

Nevertheless, I recognize that the world is not ready for the monophyletic definition of “monkey,” certainly not evolution deniers, so I’ll proceed with whatever paraphyletic understanding you are least uncomfortable with. In the diagram above, let’s say that the orange smiley at the lower right is a modern human, and the green smiley at the upper left is a long-extinct common ancestor of monkeys and humans from around 40 million years ago (which we would certainly call a monkey were it alive today).

At what point in this diagram does green become chartreuse? At what point does chartreuse become yellow? At what point does yellow become orange? And at what point do you see a monkey giving birth to a human?

 


Where in this diagram do you see a cat giving birth to a dog?

 


Where in this diagram do you see a cross between a crocodile and a duck?

[Joe Bloe]

I can't remember where I found this one, but it fits nicely into this thread:

[Ungodly]

When some persons choose to use their ignorance as a weapon it seems perfectly appropriate to respond with facts. And these graphical methods are a wonderful way to teach those not dead set against learning.

[Great Ape]