
Humans Didn't Evolve From Chimps: A Science Teacher Explains
Humans and Apes: Clearing Up a Common Misconception In a recent TikTok video, science educator Zeke Darwin addressed a common misunderstanding about human evolution. Many believe humans evolved directly from chimpanzees or gorillas. Darwin explains this is incorrect, using a clear diagram to illustrate the evolutionary relationship between humans and other apes. "People often think of apes as just chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans," Darwin explains in the video. "But that's not the whole picture. Humans are also apes, but we share a common ancestor with other apes, not a direct lineage." Darwin's explanation highlights the importance of understanding the evolutionary tree. Many intermediate species existed between the common ancestor and modern humans and apes, but these species have since gone extinct. This leaves the modern species as the sole surviving branches of their respective evolutionary lines. Darwin's video serves as a valuable educational resource, helping to correct misinformation about human origins and promote a better understanding of evolutionary biology.