Comments on: Update on Oliver and Primarily Primates

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:21:19 +0000

That being said, it seems there is a lot of debate in the scientific community as to whether it would be possible or not, so who knows? It is possible on a genetic scale, but my own opinion is that other factors that I mentioned make it very difficult for such a hybrid to come to fruition. So maybe “impossible” is the wrong word. “Highly improbable” is probably closer. So far there have been no documented cases of a “humanzee” which is telling because I would have thought that some sicko would have done it by now if it were easy to do. If it is doable, I hope nobody does it because that would open up a whole ethical can of worms!

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:05:42 +0000

There are various factors involved. Just because two species are closely related does not mean they can always interbreed. Many types of frog are related but cannot interbreed for example. Just being closely related is not enough. There are reproductive compatibility factors to be considered as well. In layman’s terms, chimps and humans have differing egg, sperm compatibility, differing gestation periods, different womb conditions, different fetal nutrition requirements, size differences, and so on and so forth. I’m not trying to be argumentative here, just giving you the knowlege I have. I suggest you get on the net and check it out or look into it. Fascinating stuff. Chimps and human are close, but no cigar on the interbreeding front.

By: jayman

jayman — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 18:12:30 +0000

MM, I agree this would be extremely unlikely to happen naturally. But do you have documentation that it’s “impossible”? Not just “yuk factor”?

Various gibbon-siamang species can produce hybrids although they vary greatly in chromosome number.

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 14:42:17 +0000

Jayman, although you are right about some closely related species doing this (lions and tigers, horses and donkeys, etc.) species doing this, chimps and humans cannot. There is a whole plethora of reasons why it is an impossibility, but it is. A human and a chimp cannot produce offspring. Period. I’m not making that up.

By: jayman

jayman — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 14:11:21 +0000

Everybody here should read the novel “Jennie” about the tragedy of chimps caught up in the human world. I did, after it was mentioned on another blog here. I highly recommend it.

While Oliver was proven not to be a “humanzee”, I’m not so sure of the “biological impossibility” of this (though it’s surely not a good idea)! Species considerably more genetically dissimilar than humans and chimps can hybridize. Horses and donkeys can, though their chromosome number differs by two, as does humans and chimps - that’s why mules are sterile. The real barrier is behavioral.

By: bill green

bill green — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 05:13:51 +0000

hey craig wow this is a very informative new update article about oliver. its very interesting indeed. thanks bill. p.s. hey loren & rick whats both of science opinions of oliver.

By: mystery_man

mystery_man — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 04:42:49 +0000

Good to see Oliver finally get some peace and quiet. It’s a shame that he was exploited for so long as some kind of human hybrid freak. What’s even scarier is that some people out there really believe that he was a human hybrid. That is just simply, biologically impossible. Perfect example of how ignorant people can be about the world around them. Unfortunately, at its worst, human ignorance goes a long way towards the defiling of the natural world sometimes.

By: mrbf2006

mrbf2006 — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 04:17:35 +0000

Craig, thanks for keeping us up to date on Oliver. I have been deeply interested in the story of this unique Chimp since I can remember, and it is so good to see him treated with respect and put in a much larger enclosure. He deserves to live out his last days in comfort and a loving environment, and it seems like he is getting just that at Primarily Primates. Keep us updated on this story, Craig.

By: kittenz

kittenz — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 01:59:59 +0000

“The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.”

In this case it is these poor animals that have been through hell.