Q and A
If human and chimpanzee DNA is 98% similar, doesn’t that prove we have a common ancestry?
First we need to remember that scientists are human just like everyone else and they can be biased in their conclusions. There is some similarity in the DNA of all living things because we live in the same environment and are made of the same proteins. Humans and chimpanzees eat the same type of food and breathe the same air.
Jeffrey Tompkins PHD in Acts and Facts states the following:
“So how did scientists come up with the highly touted 98 to 99% similarity estimates?
First they used only human and chimp DNA sequence fragments that already exhibited a high level of similarity. Sections that did not line up were tossed out of the mix. Next they only used the protein coding portions of genes for their comparison. Most of the DNA sequence across the chromosomal region encompassing a gene is not used for protein coding but rather for gene regulation.
The chimp genome is 10 to 12 percent larger than the human genome and is not in a near finished state like the human genome, it is considered a rough draft. When large regions of the two genomes are compared, critical sequence dissimilarities become evident. Extremely large blocks of dissimilarity exist on a number of key chromosomes including marked structural differences between the entire male (Y) chromosome.
Distinct differences in gene function and regulation are now known to be a more significant factor in determining differences in traits between organisms than the gene sequence alone. Research in this area has already demonstrated that this is the case with humans and apes, where marked dissimilarities in expression patterns are evident.
The DNA data, both structural and functional clearly supports the concept of humans and chimps created as distinct separate kinds. Not only are humans and chimps genetically distinct but only man has the innate capacity and obligation to worship his Creator.”