Question

Is it possible that we did not evolve from apes but were created by something else using ape DNA through many failures that we have in our museums?

The placement of humans within great apes is based on a great deal of evidence. The groups share similar DNA (as you have correctly noted). The groups also share a great number of skeletal features (such as the loss of a tail) and other characteristics as well (such as tool use). From paleontology, we find that humans arose in East Africa about 5 million years ago. It has also been found that Chimpanzees arose about the same time in Africa. Both groups (humans and chimps) arose from a common ancestor that was neither human nor chimp, but instead it was a great ape that is now extinct. Several recent paleontological finds in East Africa suggest that this ancestor also lived in Africa around 5 million years ago. The current evidence suggests that on the western side of the great African rift valley, this ancestor gave rise to the Chimps while on the eastern side of the African rift valley; this ancestor gave rise to the humans. So, with the current paleontological data in mind, I find it unlikely that humans were created using ape DNA; however, if in the future evidence rules out a common ancestor to chimps and humans in Africa, then unconventional hypotheses would have to be reconsidered. Dr. Chris House, Assistant Professor of Astrobiology, Penn State University
June 3, 2002