Whilst i like the sentiment I despise the "we share x% of our DNA with whatever" argument, as its utter garbage, especially when referring to Chimps. Yes we share 97% of our DNA with a chimpanzee, we also share close to 50% with a cabbage. it doesn't mean jack!
""""Why does it make people so uncomfortable to realise that we are not so different from one another?""""
That couldn't be more true. Genetic variation between humans is staggeringly small. There is more variation between any two chimps from the same family group, than there is between any two humans anywhere on the face of the globe.
More so when you take into consideration that a group of scientists and mathematicians estimated that given ideal mutation rate and success(with all mutations being beneficial, and many times more often than we have ever observed), it would take more time than the universe has been around for a change of 1% of the 3% difference that the chimps have from us.
Our differences make us stronger when we work together. No loners, please.
I've been reading your blog since you started. I kept thinking you were a friend of mine doing this secretly, until you revealed yourself. LOL! Love your clever ways of expressing things that get people thinking. Really like today's! :)
Excellent..i loved it. I think we always forget that somehow that person sitting next to you in the train is related to you through some common ancestor..and when you think of it, it's kind of bewildering.
Re: "it doesn't mean jack" that we share 50% of our DNA with cabbage or 97% with chimps--It means everything. It very simply shows how our DNA is more similar to things that are closely related to us than things that are not. The significance of this tends to be overlooked by a stunning number of people. Having said that--I hugged someone today!
"The DNA in you is a coded description of ancient worlds in which your ancestors lived. DNA is the wisdom out of the old days, and I mean very old days indeed." --Richard Dawkins
Hee hee hee... all of you reminded me of that bit in "Life of Brian":
Brian: Look, you've got it all wrong! You don't NEED to follow ME, You don't NEED to follow ANYBODY! You've got to think for your selves! You're ALL individuals!
..it would take more time than the universe has been around for a change of 1% of the 3% difference that the chimps have from us."
Doesn't that leave out one of the keys to the theory; that there were periods where all hell broke loose – at which time the Rate of evolution accelerated?
Michael Holloway
http://filter--blog.blogspot.com/
P.S.
"Our differences make us stronger when we work together. No loners, please."
"More so when you take into consideration that a group of scientists and mathematicians* estimated that given ideal mutation rate and success(with all mutations being beneficial, and many times more often than we have ever observed), it would take more time than the universe has been around for a change of 1% of the 3% difference that the chimps have from us."
* = who reject the fact that the Universe is more than 1000000 times older than the 6000 some odd years as proposed by St. Thomas Aquinas
This site is a little project that lets me make fun of some things and sense of others.
I use it to think a little more relationally without resorting to doing actual math.
31 comments:
Love your blog!
It's not great, but I thought I'd make something for you ('scuse the crappy mouse-drawn writing):
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c176/jezuschryzt/card8211.jpg
Ah, yes, but it's not the DNA that matters, but what we do with it.
Whilst i like the sentiment I despise the "we share x% of our DNA with whatever" argument, as its utter garbage, especially when referring to Chimps. Yes we share 97% of our DNA with a chimpanzee, we also share close to 50% with a cabbage. it doesn't mean jack!
oh, and i do realise that that index card has nothing to do with chimps, its just the most used example of the DNA sharing thing...
I'm sorry, are you completely silly?? The "we share x% of our DNA with whatever" arguement is actually huge. (maybe not the point here but...)
Respect the world. Respect life. It's not that far away from you.
How hard is it to understand that?! Seriously - just be kind and generous.. you'll love yourself for it.
Or, as Ani DiFranco would say, "Just suck up and be nice."
Why does it make people so uncomfortable to realise that we are not so different from one another?
Remember: you're unique, just like everyone else.
""""Why does it make people so uncomfortable to realise that we are not so different from one another?""""
That couldn't be more true. Genetic variation between humans is staggeringly small. There is more variation between any two chimps from the same family group, than there is between any two humans anywhere on the face of the globe.
ahahaha my dad always says that "you're unique just like everybody else." ... cracks me up every time.
"repeat after me: we are all individuals."
I will, thanks.
That .1 % means quite a lot.
More so when you take into consideration that a group of scientists and mathematicians estimated that given ideal mutation rate and success(with all mutations being beneficial, and many times more often than we have ever observed), it would take more time than the universe has been around for a change of 1% of the 3% difference that the chimps have from us.
Our differences make us stronger when we work together. No loners, please.
I think, perhaps, if we didn't share that supposed 50% DNA with cabbage, then we couldn't absorb it for nutrients.
i've been reading for some time now, just thought i'd say your blog is great (not that it matters much coming from a total stranger)
love the sentiment =)
Excellent comic today. I want this one on a tshirt.
It's staggering how many people see themselves as being more important than a blade of grass. It has just as much right to exist as we do.
I agree: this should be a tshirt.
Mad Monk,
It has just as much right of being eaten as we do!
wow..this is sooo coool..ur blog just roks..u make ur own drawings? really unique..keep them coming ;)
I would buy a t-shirt with this one on it.
I've been reading your blog since you started. I kept thinking you were a friend of mine doing this secretly, until you revealed yourself. LOL! Love your clever ways of expressing things that get people thinking. Really like today's! :)
PY said...
Why does it make people so uncomfortable to realise that we are not so different from one another?
Remember: you're unique, just like everyone else.
4:59 AM
the middle could also be Pink FLoyd
Excellent..i loved it. I think we always forget that somehow that person sitting next to you in the train is related to you through some common ancestor..and when you think of it, it's kind of bewildering.
Absolutely--make this a shirt!
Re: "it doesn't mean jack" that we share 50% of our DNA with cabbage or 97% with chimps--It means everything. It very simply shows how our DNA is more similar to things that are closely related to us than things that are not. The significance of this tends to be overlooked by a stunning number of people. Having said that--I hugged someone today!
"The DNA in you is a coded description of ancient worlds in which your ancestors lived. DNA is the wisdom out of the old days, and I mean very old days indeed." --Richard Dawkins
Adorei o teu blog...super criativo, nunca tinha visto nada igual!!! Parabéns!!!
Obs.: se ele fosse em português seria tudo de bom!!!
Hee hee hee... all of you reminded me of that bit in "Life of Brian":
Brian: Look, you've got it all wrong! You don't NEED to follow ME, You don't NEED to follow ANYBODY! You've got to think for your selves! You're ALL individuals!
The Crowd: Yes! We're all individuals!
Brian: You're all different!
The Crowd: Yes, we ARE all different!
Man in crowd: I'm not...
The Crowd: Shhhh!
...cracks me up every time.
I did a church service Friday night where I mentioned this blog.
Too many churches think they are so different, or that they have the truth.
I love the hug part.
How much of our DNA to we share with an index card? heehee
Anonymous @ 10:18 AM said...
"That .1 % means quite a lot.
..it would take more time than the universe has been around for a change of 1% of the 3% difference that the chimps have from us."
Doesn't that leave out one of the keys to the theory; that there were periods where all hell broke loose – at which time the Rate of evolution accelerated?
Michael Holloway
http://filter--blog.blogspot.com/
P.S.
"Our differences make us stronger when we work together. No loners, please."
Agreed.
"More so when you take into consideration that a group of scientists and mathematicians* estimated that given ideal mutation rate and success(with all mutations being beneficial, and many times more often than we have ever observed), it would take more time than the universe has been around for a change of 1% of the 3% difference that the chimps have from us."
* = who reject the fact that the Universe is more than 1000000 times older than the 6000 some odd years as proposed by St. Thomas Aquinas
Sorry, I know you are anti-numbers and whatnot.
Loved your post, check out Journey of Man : I saw it recently and have a new respect for my fellow planet dwellers.
its always that 0.01%. we should make a law that bans them
Who is "them"?
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