Q J Med 2002; 95: 195-196
© 2002 Association of Physicians
Coda |
Darwin's dangerous idea
Most educated people nowadays know that we share over 98% of our DNA with chimpanzees. It does not disconcert us. The Victorians may have reacted with outrage to the proposition that we share our ancestors with the great apes, but we now live comfortably with the knowledge of our cousinhood.
We also share 50% of our DNA with bananas. This is a little harder to come to terms with. We cannot know how the bananas feel about it, but many humans may experience a frisson on learning this fact.