Re: Some evolution questions

In article <v5cj23tg0slr5v0do8bp6chnaju729g3q0@xxxxxxx>, Chris <christo9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes
Can someone in the evolution camp explain why the nearest living
relative of man is so far away from man (I believe it's the chimp)?

Depends on your perspective. From a genetic point of view they are very close indeed.

What about the nearest extinct relative? How close are we to it?

Probably Neanderthals, they appear to be the last species to separate from our particular branch of the tree. Note that they appear to be a side branch and not ancestral to us though.

The other possibility is the hobbits, although that is somewhat controversial:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_floresiensis

Shouldn't we see slightly less evolved humans still living or even not
living for that matter? Doesn't it seem odd that every single human
like creature that is not 100% human is gone?

It doesn't seem odd to me at all.

If you put two species which share the same ecological niche (resources) in the same environment and then sooner or later you will end up with only one species remaining. The other one will be extinct, out competed for food or shelter.

Humans are not very good at sharing resources with other organisms. Look at the speed we are wiping out the great apes and their habitats. At this rate our closest living relatives will soon no longer be chimps because there won't be any chimps left.
--
tony2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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