Why Darwin choose Apes for the Human Revolution Theory?

He chose apes because apes are obviously our closest relative. They are extremely intelligent, have no tail, have hands that resemble ours and appear more like us than other animals. He assumed that our ancestors would likely be found in Africa because that is where the extant great apes are found (with exception of Orangutan). Darwin didn't know any common ancestors. He simply guessed that they might be found in the future.Why Darwin choose Apes for the Human Revolution Theory?
Because we ARE apes.



Darwin's theory of evolution suggested that given the physical similarities, it seemed very probable that we along with other apes were descended from a common ancestor in our shared distant past.



Darwin found apes to be compelling in their similarities to us and argued this in his book "The Descent of Man"



http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/The_Descent鈥?/a>



There are 4 major groups of "great" apes in the primate family today. About a dozen other Hominids have gone extinct in the last few million years.



Orangutans

Gorillas

Chimpanzee's / Bonobos

Humans



Neanderthals (extinct about 40,000 years ago)

Gigantus (extinct about 300,000 years ago)



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



Genetically we are VERY similar to Bonobos %26amp; Chimpanzees and share nearly all of our DNA with them.



Something like 98% of our DNA is shared in common with them.



In fact while there are very many small (minor) differences, the only MAJOR difference was an error in replication which occurred on our Chromosome 2.



This gives specific molecular "hard" evidence for common descent. It's a fact as real as anything we know.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromosome_鈥?/a>
He chose apes because we evolved from them. So because we are so close to them and besides other humans they are our closest relative. So it makes perfect sense to study them instead of say a rabbit which has no obvious connections to being human. also they resemble us more than any other animal which would help him figure out they were our ancestorsWhy Darwin choose Apes for the Human Revolution Theory?
I strongly suggest you do Biology 101. Darwin did not choose apes as the human ancestors, he discovered they were.
... he didn't 'choose' apes... he observed the connection in our common ancestorsWhy Darwin choose Apes for the Human Revolution Theory?
because he refused to recognize he was surrounded by snakes
cause he LOVES monkeys
What ape? That was his wife.