Humans and orangutans

[Denis Brothers]

What happened to the scientific principle that hypotheses can only be
disproved, and that nothing can actually be "proven"? In any case, if
phylogenies are supposed to represent our best estimate of actual
evolutionary events there is no way they can ever be known with
certainty (until someone invents a functioning time machine, at least).
Until then, we must use all available information to make the best
estimate.
Denis

Prof. Denis J. Brothers
School of Botany & Zoology
University of Natal
Private Bag X01
Scottsville
3209 SOUTH AFRICA
tel: +27 (0)33 260 5106
fax: +27 (0)33 260 5105
e-mail: brothers at nu.ac.za

>>> John Grehan <jgrehan at SCIENCEBUFF.ORG> 2003/06/17 08:31:41 PM >>>
Just an update on the orangutan-human front. I have heard from one
molecular geneticist informing me that it has been scientifically
proven
that chimpanzees are human's closest living relatives and that it is
highly
irresponsible for me to convey to the public information which is known
to
be incorrect and that I will look like a laughing-stock among my
peers.

Be that as it may, this geneticist raises the same point I have
mentioned
earlier. If only molecular genetics scientifically proves phylogeny
then
all morphological contributions to phylogeny are rendered science
fiction.
All morphological studies, including those of fossil taxa, are
unreliable
to the point that they should no longer be funded. This seems to be
the
inevitable conclusion one would reach if molecular phylogeny were the
only
reliable way to reconstruct phylogeny and have automatic precedence
over
morphology. This is the view taken by most primate systematists
working
with human origins - even by those who study morphology, and including
those who study fossil hominid taxa!

Are there any morphological systematists on this list who view
molecular
genetics as the last word on reconstructing phylogeny? (i.e. view their
own
morphological work as phylogenetically uninformative).

John Grehan

Dr. John Grehan
Director of Science and Collections
Buffalo Museum of Science
1020 Humboldt Parkway
Buffalo, New York 14211-1293
Voice 716-896-5200 x372
Fax 716-897-6723
jgrehan at sciencebuff.org
http://www.sciencebuff.org/biogeography/Panbiogeography/Panbiogeography-Gate.htm

http://www.sciencebuff.org/HepialidaeGate.htm

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