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What Our Shared Genetic Make-up with Chimps Actually Tells Us

The Evidence Study Bible
Adapted from The Evidence Study Bible

One typical “proof” evolutionists give for ape-to-man evolution is that chimpanzees and humans have very similar DNA. In previous DNA studies, based on only portions of the chimp genome, scientists announced that humans and chimps were 98–99 percent identical, depending on what was counted. After completing the mapping of the chimp genome in 2005, evolutionists are now hailing the result as “the most dramatic confirmation yet” that chimps and humans have common ancestry. Their overwhelming “proof” is the finding that the genetic difference is 4 percent—which is interesting proof, because it’s actually twice the amount that they’ve been claiming for years.

In addition, even if the difference is only 4 percent of the 3 billion base pairs of DNA in every cell, that represents 120,000,000 entries in the DNA code that are different! In our DNA instruction book, that’s equivalent to about 12 million words—so that seemingly small percentage has a tremendous impact. Men and monkeys also have another fundamental difference: humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes while chimps have 24, so the DNA isn’t as similar as you’ve been led to believe.

“According to evolutionist Steven Jones, a renowned British geneticist, “We also share about 50% of our DNA with bananas and that doesn’t make us half bananas…”

More importantly, this claim of evolutionists makes a huge assumption. What is the scientific basis for assuming that similar DNA means a common ancestor? When you see a biplane and a jet—which share common features of wings, body, tires, engine, controls, etc.—do you assume that one must have evolved from the other naturally, without a maker? That’s illogical. It’s more reasonable to conclude that similar design indicates a common, intelligent designer. An architect typically uses the same building materials for numerous buildings, and a car manufacturer commonly uses the same parts in various models. So if we have a common Designer, we would expect to find that a similar “blueprint” was used in many different creatures.

After all, DNA is the coding for the way our bodies look and operate, so creatures with similar features or body functions (eyes for vision, enzymes for digestion, etc.) would have similar coding for these things in their DNA. Because human cells have the same biochemical functions as many different animals and even plants, we share some of the same genes. The more we have in common, the more we find similar coding in the blueprints. This is just simple reasoning—not proof of common ancestry!

So, even though we share 96 percent of our genetic make-up with chimps, that does not mean we are 96 percent chimp. Be careful you don’t fall for the illogic of this “evolutionary proof,” or scientists will not only make a monkey out of you, they’ll make a banana out of you! According to evolutionist Steven Jones, a renowned British geneticist, “We also share about 50% of our DNA with bananas and that doesn’t make us half bananas…”

“In the beginning, God created…”

Order The Evidence Study Bible today.

The Evidence Study Bible
1. Why Even Top Scientists Are Doubting Evolution
2. What Does It Really Mean to Know the Lord?
3. It Is Biblical to Call Sinners to Repent
4. Answering Common Questions About Creation
5. The Difference Between Biblical and False Prophecy
6. Questions to Make the Evolutionist Think
7. Powerful Gospel Parallels Found in the Book of Esther
8. The Simple Reason Evolution Can’t Be Proved
9. Know Your Rights in Public Speaking
10. God Is Good, and That’s Scary News for Sinful Man
11. A Brush With Death Awakens Ray Comfort to the Plight of the Lost
12. Biblical Promises About Heaven
13. Who Can Tell Me: A Search for Meaning
14. What Our Shared Genetic Make-up with Chimps Actually Tells Us
15. Using What God Gave Us to Reach the Lost
16. Calvary’s Cross
17. Giving Thanks in Any Circumstance
18. Judgement Day and the Existence of Hell
19. The Sobering Task of Evangelism
20. Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
21. Answering Objections to Prayer
22. How to Witness to Mormons
23. The Sermon on the Mount
24. The Incredible Design of the Human Eye

Ray Comfort

Ray Comfort is the Founder and CEO of Living Waters, a bestselling author, and has written more than 100 books, including, The Evidence Study Bible. He cohosts the award-winning television program Way of the Master, which airs in 190 countries.

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