# Evolved from what? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 22, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319 "2012-01-22T18:30:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![axolotyl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/50afbb/32.png) [@axolotyl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/axolotyl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/1 "2012-01-22T18:30:49Z")
If we evolved from “lower” primates, why do those species still exist? If we evolved from a particular species, then it would now be extinct, right? So, what did that species evolve from? Do certain species have an evolve gene and others not? Why? Get my drift? ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/2 "2012-01-22T18:35:11Z")
> [@axolotyl](#): > > If we evolved from a particular species, then it would now be extinct, right? No. Why would you think that? ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/3 "2012-01-22T18:36:04Z")
The species we evolved from **IS** extinct. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/4 "2012-01-22T18:41:18Z")
This is all pretty basic stuff. Why don’t you [read up on it](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_evolution), and get back with any questions. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/5 "2012-01-22T18:41:48Z")
We didn’t evolve from lower primates. Apes, chimps, gorillas, monkeys, and humans all share a common ancestor who is no longer extant. There is no such thing as an evolve gene. Evolution is the name given by humans to the natural winnowing process that boosts traits that aid in reproduction and squashes traits that interfere. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/6 "2012-01-22T18:42:04Z")
Speciation occurs by branching in the vast majority cases (a process known as _cladogenesis_), not transformation (a process known as _anagensis_). In the case of primates, it’s been branching all the way. As a very simplified explanation, if a sub population is separated form the main population through some means, then that sub-population will evolve largely independently of the main population. The parent population does not immediately disappear. The two populations eventually become evolutionarily distinct; both the parent and daughter populations can thus certainly exist contemporaneously. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/7 "2012-01-22T18:42:22Z")
Think of tree branches. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/8 "2012-01-22T18:46:36Z")
Or language evolution. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/9 "2012-01-22T18:49:43Z")
Your drift does not sound like a real question you want answered. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/10 "2012-01-22T18:51:12Z")
> [@Indistinguishable](#): > > Or language evolution. No, I think he’s onto something - people say that English evolved from German, but there are **still people who speak German**. That never-before-noticed fact proves that history is a lie, and the world was created in 1967. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/11 "2012-01-22T19:00:25Z")
My ancestors emigrated from Germany, England, and Switzerland to the U.S. That does not mean that there is nobody there anymore. If we look at the point several million years ago that the first humans evolved from their great ape ancestors, that does not mean that all of those ancestors simultaneously evolved in the same way. It means that one or more evolved into something closer to a modern human. Somewhere during those same millions of years other of the ape ancestors were evolving into something closer to other great ape species like chimpanzees, gorillas, etc. Evolution always consists of several small groups evolving into different species. Sometimes the non-evolved groups continue to exist and sometimes they die out. Can someone suggest a good popular introduction to evolution that axolotyl can read to answer his questions? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/12 "2012-01-22T19:03:16Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Can someone suggest a good popular introduction to evolution that axolotyl can read to answer his questions? Pointless. From the OP’s profile. > [@](#): > > Realised that the greatest guru of all is Yeshua…(yes, THAT Yeshua, Jesus the Christ) ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/13 "2012-01-22T19:03:25Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Can someone suggest a good popular introduction to evolution that axolotyl can read to answer his questions? [_What Evolution Is_](http://www.amazon.com/What-Evolution-Ernst-Mayr/dp/0465044263/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327258947&sr=8-1), by Ernst Mayr. Excellent intro to the subject. ---
**Author:** ![srzss05](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@srzss05](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srzss05)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/14 "2012-01-22T19:12:12Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > No, I think he’s onto something - people say that English evolved from German, but there are **still people who speak German**. That never-before-noticed fact proves that history is a lie, and the world was created in 1967. I know you are being facetious, but the point still stands. The language that both German and English “evolved” from is no longer spoken. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/15 "2012-01-22T19:21:55Z")
runner pat writes: \> Pointless. I think that saying that it’s pointless to try to teach someone who asks ill-conceived questions is giving up too easily. I think that’s the equivalent of telling someone that they are stupid and can’t possibly learn anything, so they shouldn’t ask questions. I think that it’s better to tell them to start by reading an introduction to the subject they are asking about so they understand better what questions make sense. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/16 "2012-01-22T19:55:00Z")
> [@srzss05](#): > > I know you are being facetious, but the point still stands. The language that both German and English “evolved” from is no longer spoken. You’re right, of course. It’s worth noting that modern German is more similar to that original language than modern English is - this is analogous to the fact that when one species develops into two or more descendant species, some of the descendants will look more like the original species than others do, even though all the new species have been evolving the same amount of time. But all that is immaterial to answering axolotyl’s fallacy. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/17 "2012-01-22T21:05:17Z")
Another analogy that might help is that although I live in America and my ancestors came from Italy, there are still Italians. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/18 "2012-01-22T21:38:19Z")
However, when an axolotl turns into a salamander, there really is no axolotl there any more. Perhaps this is why he’s confused. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/19 "2012-01-23T00:06:42Z")
I realize that it’s probably pointless to argue with the OP given how the OP’s question was phrased, but just to add my two bits - there are very few situations where there is **only one** potentially advantageous change. An animal could have an advantage by being stronger, by having longer teeth, by having a better immune system, by having greater intelligence, by being able to soar further, by having better balance, etc. etc. etc. etc. Some changes will be more suitable for grassland, some for the edge of the forest, some for deep forest, etc. etc. etc. etc. So, no, one animal does not typically evolve into **one** other **single** animal; it evolves into multiple different animals. People and other primates evolved from a common ancestor; nobody (that is familiar with evolution) suggests that, for example, chimpanzees evolved into humans; they both ultimately evolved from a much older ancestor. Evolution takes the form of a tree, not a straight line. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319/20 "2012-01-23T05:36:45Z")
If children turn into adults, why are there still children around? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evolved-from-what/610319.md?page=2)