Why aren't apes evolving into humans any more? - Myths of Human Evolution

Let’s talk about the various myths of human evolution. Let’s start by looking at what is perhaps “myth number one” on the list of anti-evolutionist arguments: “Nobody has ever seen an ape turning into a human.”

I think the reason is that the phrase “humans evolved from apes or monkeys” has really become a catchphrase that represents the entire theory of evolution in the mind of most lay people.
If we take this phrase literally, then we should be able to go to the zoo and look at monkeys jumping to their feet, shedding their tails and hair, and turning into handsome lads or lasses– depending on their biological sex.

However, nobody has ever seen that happen, so scientists must be hoaxing people, right? Well, not quite.

This video is a part of a mini lecture cycle. In this series Aleksander Sokolov discusses popular myths about human evolution.

Text: Aleksander Sokolov (2016)
English translation: Dmitrij Kazak and Petr Nikitin
English voiceover: Dmitry Oliferovich
Spanish subtitles: Luca ML
Cover design: Irina Galenkova
Music: Konstantin Ustinovich
Animation: Timur Nizov

Got objections? Ask your questions and present your arguments in the comment section. Aleksander Sokolov will pick the most interesting questions and answer them in one of our next videos.

WARNING! No offensive or obscene language on the channel or in the comments. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a warning, followed by blocking. (The warning part may be skipped.) Flooding isn’t encouraged either.

[ScientistsAgainstMyths]

This video is a part of a mini lecture cycle. In this series Aleksander Sokolov discusses popular myths about human evolution.

[natem]

I feel that Mr. Sokolov has misunderstood the question. When this video popped up on my feed, I read it as "why aren't apes evolving to become human-*like*." Humans evolved from the same common ancestor as apes and pretty definitively went in the direction of erect stature, practically permanent bipedal movement, lack of comparable body hair, use of complex spoken language, and of course relative super-intelligence and tool use.

So, the quesion asks in greater terms: "As the great apes are our closest cousins in the animal kingdom, why haven't they (or at least some species of great ape) shown traces of evolving to match our dominance through *convergent* evolution?" As an example, just because chimpanzees evolved in a different direction to humans, there's no reason they shouldn't be able to achieve most of the traits I've pointed out above, whilst retaining certain features. The scientist here uses teeth and limbs to outline our differences and how it can't be reversed, but why not? Why wouldn't the chimpanzee have the ability to evolve to have longer legs, shorter teeth, bipedal movement, etc? One could say they have their niche in nature, but the Humanoid has proven (and I don't think this is an argument) to be the most successful creature on the planet, and is that not the goal of evolution as a concept?

Not to mention, the chimpanzee's niche, as well as other apes', is rapidly shrinking. Although that is (for the most part) a more recent dvelopment, especialy on a geological time scale, but I would argue that was already an eventuality many thousands of years ago anyway.

[TheOne-xuoy]

Ok so question: if there was a catastrophic event that wiped out the human species but left the other great ape species and they were subjected to changes in the environment, could they then evolve further to something human like?

[ThisisRubbishlo]

Given the same external pressures maybe they could evolve into a similar type of upright walking human shape. Parallel Evolution, 5 types of Crab shaped animals evolved and include the Crab.... All are unrelated but evolution found the same or similar answer independently of each other.

[spankyharland]

I think humans are evolving into monkeys and wild apes....they are sure acting like them now a days.

[jasonlowery]

Evolution isn't a road map with a specific destination planned. Evolution is because something changes in an individual or group and that gives that individual or group the edge over other competitors.

It's more like a championship where each group has to compete with those that were there before and every one else. If it wins it gets to go on to the next level. If a change help it win in the event then it will more likely go onto the next level. Some changes may be beneficial in some events but nt others which is when that group gets knocked out of the competition by another group with better adaptations for that event.

[ninomiskulin]

its amazing how video with only 8k views explains this question much much better than other videos. Well done

[andrewtrip]

Having a common ancestor is not the same as evolving from some creature that exists to day and shares that ancestor .

[sirounpatra]

This video was nice but it would have been interesting if it was animated.

[The-Stitch]

Short explanation
Reject humanity
Return to monke

[chrissibersky]

They started to eat meat and evolved like humans but then for some reason they went vegan.

[ramenisbombman]

Because they have trees and habitats that we lost access to that forced us to evolve and on top of that humans have filled the wandering monkey niche pretty well at this point

[datemasamune]

Because they realize it’s more of a detriment to become human. XD

[Aymcana]

I think the main question was “why there are no apes that are at least walking on 2 feet or using tools” every ape is similar to each other, except humans. There is no one in between

[cncsamplesvideos]

God: Here's what I did. Humans: Yea, but...

[ralfnikoparohinog]

The product of evolution such as different physical and mental attributes of a certain species of animal is highly dependent on the environment from where it lives. The environment creates the external preassures to the animal exploiting every single traits of it's body and if a certain trait gives the animal advantage to survive much longer then that certain feature will be passed on to its offspring. The genes that carries the traits will be enhanced or diminished throughout the next generations depending on the external factors at play. Chimps, Gorillas, Orangutans, Humans, and other great apes evolved the way they are today because their genes has proven to be well suited to their own environment and useful for survival.

[AirYaniveZer]

Humans, Apes, Monkeys & Lemurs had a common ancestor which is now extinct. Similarly with monkeys & apes and then apes and humans. Our Ancestor was Australopithecus not chimpanzee. The ancestor of chimpanzees were Paranthropus and Paranthropus along with Australopithecus had a common ancestor called Orrorin tugenensis from which some species evolved into chimps and some towards humanity. Evolution doesn't only goes in one direction but in every direction.

[bensden]

Well what will they turn into providing no extinction events and they carry on living and thriving?.

[ScottCleve]

To me this is just another way of saying "just because". According to people who believe in macro evolution all life evolved from the same thing. The the larger question is why don't all life evolve into the highest life form. Forget apes into monkeys. If evolution worked as they suggest it means all life should constantly be evolving.

It's almost like they're suggesting that our ability to evolve is limited in some way by our DNA but that's impossible if you believe in evolution. Evolution tells us that we evolved in spite of our DNA.

The uncomfortable truth is that if they believe in evolution and someone asks a question like this then all the great minds must come up with a reason that doesn't disrupt their core belief.

[drawinaminutewithdr.rajasa]

Modern apes may become Human like creatures via convergent evolution! But that would take atleast another million years!