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Response to reports of human hands being "less evolved" than chimps

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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

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Source: Sense About Science

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