Evolutionary scientists have just been let loose in the Genome candy store. After comparing the genetic structure of humans and chimpanzees, they’ve discovered that they share “an almost identical genetic inheritance” an “‘elegant confirmation’ of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.” Here’s the first part of Steve Sternberg’s description of the announcement in USA Today:[1]
The 3 billion genetic letters in the two genetic blueprints are 96% identical. . .
At first glance, this sounds rather compelling, until we read what immediately follows:
. . . with just 40 million differences.
“Almost identical” and “40 million differences” are on opposite ends of the logic spectrum. But who needs logic when you’re talking about evolution? Who needs logic and common sense when you’re dealing with a worldview that is necessary to protect atheism? Tens of millions of differences are inconsequential, but the proposition of a designer is an impossible proposal.
We should expect to see a proportionate level of real life similarities between humans and animals since they are “almost identical.” For example, chimp libraries, hospitals, educational institutions, and housing developments should have a 96 percent correspondence. Of course, there is almost no correspondence. When a chimp types one coherent sentence, let me know.
There is a dark side to our “closest living relatives.” Tori Spelling, star of the teen angst TV series 90210 and daughter of producer Aaron Spelling, keeps sea monkeys as pets. “They’re really kind of gross,” she says. How gross? She came in one day and found that the adults had eaten the babies![2] Journalist and author Gwynne Dyer claims that “The apes are our brothers—at least our first cousins.”[3] If this is true, then why do we weep and protest when children die, but we don’t mourn when a baby monkey is eaten? Why weren’t these sea monkeys arrested and prosecuted for one of the grossest forms of murder, cannibalism?
Endnotes:
[1] Steve Sternberg, “Humans, chimps almost match,” USA Today (September 1, 2005), 1A.
[2] Bruce Handy, “Not Just Daddy’s Girl,” Time (October 20, 1997), 100.
[3] Quoted in Impact (May 1999), 7