Human Evolution From Chimpanzee and a Pig?
By Divya Shree
Edited by Stephanie Dawson
There are many theories regarding the evolution of humans from animals but according to a new theory by Dr Eugene McCarthy, an American geneticist, humans evolved as a result of a pig and female chimpanzee mating. This surprising theory has been suggested by Dr. Eugene McCarthy at the University of Georgia. He is also one of the world’s leading authorities on animal hybridization.
Dr. McCarthy suggests that humans have characteristics found in chimps and others not found in any other primate in our animal kingdom. Dr. McCarthy states there is one animal that possesses all the characteristics that differentiate humans from other primate, Sus Crofa, an ordinary pig. Dr. McCarthy suggests that the characteristics humans possess had to come from a cross generation that cannot come from a primate mating with another primate.
At present, scientists believe humans evolved from chimpanzees which is backed by genetic evidence. According to Dr. McCarthy there are some similarities between human and chimps, however there are a number of characteristics that differentiate the two species.
Hairless skin, light-colored eyes, a thick layer of subcutaneous fat, heavy eyelashes, and protruding noses are some characteristics that differentiate humans from chimps. Studies also show a large number of common features between human being and pigs such as skin and other organs. Tissues and heart valves from pigs are used in the modern medicine for their acceptability by the human body. Scientists are conducting research to transplant kidneys and other organs from pigs into humans. Dr. McCarthy questioned if pigs and humans have nothing in common why can’t goat or any other mammal’s organs be used for transplantation into humans when pigs and goats are equally distant human relatives?
This new theory of Dr. McCarthy’s mating of chimpanzee and pig lead to a number of generations of backcrossing. The offspring of this mating lived among chimps and probably mated with them as well, this is the reason humans became more like chimps and less like pigs.
Dr. McCarthy states that if humans are compared to other non-mammals like crocodiles, octopi, frogs, and starfish, chimps and pigs appear to have more similarities to humans. He also suggested Charles Darwin’s theory of human evolution only discussed half of the story.
Pigs and chimpanzees have a different number of chromosomes, studies suggest when two species with a different number of chromosomes reproduce their offspring are infertile hybrids. A different number of chromosomes in parents usually negatively effects fertility in offspring, but there are many species with different chromosome counts that when mated give rise to offspring capable of reproducing.
Pigs and chimps are unlikely to mate, however their reproductive anatomy and behavioral patterns make them compatible. Dr. McCarthy stated that if the entire population of a hybrid doesn’t end it will continue to improve in terms of fertility with each passing generation. It’s also found that the earliest recognizable humans existed 6 million years ago which means we have taken a long time in improving our fertility.
Source- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2515969/Humans-evolved-female-chimpanzee-mated-pig-Extraordinary-claim-American-geneticist.html
