Response to reports of human hands being “less evolved” than chimps
Articles in the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail reported that a new study had found “human hands may be less evolved than those of chimpanzees”.
Dr Susie Cunningham, Lecturer, PFIAO, University of Cape Town responds:
“Saying ‘less evolved’ implies human hands are inferior to chimpanzee hands, because it harks back to the long-debunked idea that evolution has some end purpose or aim. The research shows that chimp hands have changed over time to a greater degree than human hands: each are equally evolved and well suited to the lifestyles of their owners.”
Document type: For The Record
Published: 16 July 2015
Source: Sense About Science