• Question: i have a doubt related to evolution theory if we evolved from monkeys then why are there still monkeys

    Asked by anon-267552 on 11 Nov 2020.
    • Photo: Bradley Young

      Bradley Young answered on 11 Nov 2020:

      I’m not sure there are any biologists here who may be able to answer your question much better but hopefully this makes some sense:

      Because evolution happens by genetic mutations occurring in an individual, this means that an individual can start the process of a new species and diverge from the rest of the population.

      Although humans and monkeys share common ancestors, I’m sure both have evolved since then, but in very different ways.

    • Photo: Roan Haggar

      Roan Haggar answered on 11 Nov 2020:

      Humans didn’t actually evolve from monkeys — evolution says that humans and monkeys evolved from the same thing, a different species that lived millions of years ago. We call this species a ‘common ancestor’.
      —
      Rather than thinking of monkeys as something we came from (like our parents or grandparents), it’s better to think of monkeys like our cousins. Just like you have the same grandparents as your cousins, we evolved from the same thing as monkeys. Hope this helps!

Comments

  • Photo: Tammy

    Tammy commented on :

    When a new species evolves, it’s predecessor can still go on surviving, assuming suitable environmental conditions are about. Humans didn’t evolve from all monkeys but from a particular branch of the monkey family – the other branches are still existing, hence why there are still lots of monkeys around.