Hi, Bob.

icons of evolution, but not what you think

Pharyngula: There is no one simple evolution story:

I've never liked this stereotypical portrayal of evolution.


It implies that evolution is linear, that it is going somewhere, and of course, that it is all about people — all the wrong messages. Yet it is ubiquitous, and probably the most common rendering you'll find anywhere. Try googling for images of evolution, and you will turn it up, or variants on it, or jokes built on it…it's a bit annoying and trite.

(Although, when I googled to find that image — which was easy — I also found this one.

(Click for larger image)

Very nice. I like it.)

thinking of going ape? DON'T

The Intersection: Chimpanzees Are NOT Pets!:

I have extremely strong emotions concerning this particular issue... in part because of my conservation biology background, but more recently, from my friendship with science writer Vanessa Woods and her husband, evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Brian Hare. The very reason they study sanctuary orphans is because often mothers have been killed so the babies can be sold to people who want them as pets. Vanessa posted the problems with this last year on her terrific blog Bonobo Handshake:

#1 Chimpanzees are wild animals. Animals that make good PETS like dogs and cats, have been domesticated for millions (sic) of years. There has been selection on them against agression, which is why a dog, unlike a wolf, will not automatically tear you to pieces. Anyone who has a pet chimpanzee for long enough will eventually no longer be able to control them and will either get a body part bitten off or will have to use extreme force to control them. Chimps live to be 50 years old and grow almost as big as a human male. They have extremely powerful muscles and are 5-10 stronger than a heavy weight boxer.

#2 Because of this aggressive temperament people who sell these animals as pets must do so when they are adorable and harmless infants. Their customers do not know the level of aggression these animals are capable of or there strength.

This same mixed feelings came about when faireraven and I discussed it this morning. The lady was all about how he was just like a person, to which I (with all of the statistics and headlines in my head) basically pointed out, "yeah, and humans are the most unpredictable and dangerous animals on the planet right now."

(I did take exception to one thing: dog and cat domestication is more like thousands of years old, not millions.  we aren't that old a species...)