HUman story

Chapter 1 Classification of humans

Revision Question 1

Identify technological advances and resulting new information that have changed scientists' opinions about the classification of primates.


Hint
Identify means recognise and name



Answer
DNA–DNA hybridisation, haemoglobin comparison, DNA sequencing and the study of mitochondrial DNA are all technological advances in biochemistry which have led to changing information and hence changing scientists’ views on primate classification.
Prior to these technological advances scientists’ opinions only revolved around fossil evidence and comparative anatomy, usually indicating a separate evolutionary line for humans compared to apes. Now scientists have reached different conclusions from new technologies that indicate that chimpanzees and gorillas are more closely related to humans than orangutans and gibbons. Scientists also suggest that a possible common ancestor for...