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Kangaroo genes close to humans

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Australian geneticists have discovered that kangaroos are more genetically similar to humans than anyone predicted after mapping the marsupials' DNA for the first time.

"There are a few differences, we have a few more of this, a few less of that, but they are the same genes and a lot of them are in the same order," said one of the researchers, "we thought they'd be completely scrambled, but they're not. There is great chunks of the human genome which is sitting right there in the kangaroo genome."

Nonetheless, it is thought that people and kangaroos last shared an ancestor at least 150 million years ago while we diverged from mice only 70 million years ago.
  • added November 18, 2008
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30 responses // Kangaroo genes close to humans

  •  

    Damn it, we were so close to getting that hopping gene...

    purplefox
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    We don't need that gene, we just need our brains and our technology. We're evolving faster than any other animal ever will...

    phillyharper
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    Carl Sagan in the early 80s made it widely known that our genes are 98% the same as chimps, and 97% the same as an oak tree.

    All of life is almost exactly the same, the major differences are in fact minor at the genetic level.

    ninepounds6
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    just brains and technology? Playing too many video games? We need a SOUL, A concience, compassion, empathy, a heart, and so much more.

    The Kangaroo thing explains a lot about the humans on this planet. We arent "evolving", we are "de-evolving", if there is such a word.In fact, in another generation or 2, we will probably be walking on all 4s again and living in caves.

    barbara3d
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    Bounce on that for bit, monkey.

    wiredbirds
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    That means they have to come off the bbq. Aussies say only tourists eat them for the most part anyhow.

    arcticspirit
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    this just proves that we're in no way "related" to any animal.no matter how similar our genes, we are humans and kangaroos are kangaroos. just because genes look alike doesn't make us part monkey or half chickens.

    av8r
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    im not quite sure what you mean by "the church"? if you're referring christians, that's kind of a general demographic. if you reply to this if can you be a little more specific? also, i admit there are a lot people trying to fuse evolution with the bible, since evolutionists have such strong of an influence, but there are also many of us who trust the bible for what it is. and i don't mean blind faith. i mean, if anyone claims to love and believe in god, they should stand by their beliefs and learn to back them up, right?
    anywayz, what are the names of your books? i might like to check them out if they're available.
    and dude im always up for a little debate on this subject if your game. im 19 yrs old so im no expert, but i do try to learn what i can.
    peace

    av8r
  •  

    I always wondered why I am so jumpy, now i know.

    nessie00
  •  

    this is very interesting!i never knew that a kangaroowould
    of even had a small percentage of the same DNA as we do this is just
    amazing in a way.

    KatiePoooo
  •  

    The thing I found most fascinating about this is that anyone ever thought to check out how similar we are ... the resemblances just went straight over my head

    nazbags
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    Wonder what the creationists are thinking now?

  •  

    animals are people too. just more attractive and likable.

    numinant
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    Ha. You are all fools. You only thought you came from a monkeys. Now you think you maybe you are related to kangaroos. I think you humans are a combination of oak trees, chimps, kangaroos, and a western honey bee. Your phylogenetic tree is a chimparoo that poops honey and tree bark...... bark, bark. Hey, thats what I do. Dog genes have not changed in 4.5b years. Once a dog, always a dog.

    Dragunov316
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    Devolution is a myth. We add technology and enhance our biological distinctiveness.

    unimatrix0
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    de-evolution is not a myth. our adaptation to this planet has been jeopardized by the very technology we've grown to utterly rely on. we've not only lost our own homeostasis, but disrupted the homeostasis of virtually every organism on the planet. we're simultaneously overexploiting and obliterating our habitat. our civilization is based in a culture of delusion, of ceaseless economic expansion, and the world cannot sustain us. and when our civilization collapses, the few survivors may not be able to adapt to a world without advanced technology, our biology having grown weak and our knowledge of the natural world pathetic. just because we're experiencing a population bubble doesn't mean we haven't devolved, in fact, it's part of the process of having lost our ecological balance.

    numinant
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    I wonder what the creationist will make of this one!

    alexandrek
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    When someone goes to a gallery and sees an artist work they can see similarities in each painting. There tends to be a general theme in all their work no matter how different the paintings may be at first glance.

    People on forums have type personalities. They get banned after posting a lot and if they circumvent the ban and start posting again certain people can tell who the "new" person reminds them of, because no matter how hard someone tries to be not them they allow some of them to filter through.

    Each creation by a human has their touch and something that gives evidence that they created it.

    J_Jammer

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