Question about the chart showing the evolution of ape into man?

Question

Question about the evolution of man chart (ape->man)?

I have a question about the famous evolution chart picturing an ape slowly evolving up into an upright walking man. While talking to a friend the other day, he told me that the FULL chart actually shows apes evolving through various races (african, chinese, to caucasion).

I've never heard this before, but I'm curious if this was a joke, or if this chart does exist (showing races) where can this be found?

Is it part of Darwin's original works, or elsewhere.

thanks.

Answer 1

Race is not measure that can be factored into the chart.  In fact, "races" are a purely human addition to the description of homo sapiens.  Anybody who tells you otherwise is not only misinformed, they are almost certainly racist.

Answer 2

Race is generally created from the environ- ment in which those people live, and natural selection does play a part in that, for instance:

A group of completely white people begin a colony in Africa, in a place where it's always hot and sunny. Many die of sunstroke, but a few survive and have kids. After a few generations, a child is born with a mutation that gives him much darker skin, protecting him from the sun, and he passes it on to his children. Now, his descendants do not die of sunstroke, while some of those with lighter skin do, and after a very long period of time, they are all the darker color.

Answer 3

I think your friend was having a bit of a racist joke implying that people of african or chinese descent are a less evolved species.

Answer 4

there probably is such a chart.

without looking at it, i'd guess that it's not accurate.

particularly considering that the standard old chart isn't anywhere near the truth.

the only question i'd have is, "did somebody really try to show evolution?  or did some creationist  'create' it  to mock evolution?"

Answer 5

That's definitely not Darwin's work, and it sounds rather derogatory to me.  I'm not saying it doesn't exist, but I don't think that would be scientifically supported.

Answer 6

That picture is probably responsible for more *MISUNDERSTANDING* of evolution than just about any other image.  (I assume you mean the picture of the chimp, neanderthal, cro magon, and "Modern Man" shown all walking in single file to the right.)

This is most certainly NOT Darwin's work.  In fact it is totally *contrary* to Darwin's view of evolution.

And I have never seen a version of this image showing various races ... because this would not only be incredibly inaccurate ... but incredibly *racist* as well.   ... But hey, there are some twisted racist people in the world, and I'm sure anything is possible.

That image is NOT an accurate portrayal of evolution that *ANY* scientist (including Darwin) would endorse.   Evolution is not a long "chain" or march of species ... one species somehow morphing into the next species ... each species replacing its ancestor.   Instead evolution (and all of life) is a constant process of *BRANCHING*.

Answer 7

The chart itself is a bit of a simplification, showing the evolution as linear and one-dimensional. It should really show branching. If it did, it could conceivably show the "races" of man.

Answer 8

Darwin never envisioned such a chart. He did indeed postulate evolution as a process from primitive beings to humans but the linear chart you speak of is someone Else's idea. All races are fully human and involve genetic variation and familial traits so certainly one race is no more evolved than another. That view was held by people who held to a "perfect race" and was the "science" of eugenics which led to some of the most horrendous acts in human history. More than just racists, it was the worst of ideas regarding race, mental ability, and the right to exist.