Humans and Ape Breeding

[Silverbackman]

Modern genetics show that chimpanzees share at least 95% of our DNA,, and gorillas anre orangutans are pretty close to this too. Humans and apes are definatley in the same family and some scientists have even thought of putting chimpanzees and gorillas in the "homo" (though this is a minority opinion).

So is it possible for humans to mate and have children with either chimpanzees, gorillas, or orangutans since they are in the same family? Superficially it does not seem possible, because by the looks of it they look very different from each other (similar yet different) but their DNA shows that they can probably mate with humans and produce hybrids. Of course if it was possible then I guess we would be seeing hybrids but it seems that there are non in sight.

So is it possible? If so, has anyone tried to make a "humanzee" or whatever:lol:.

[victor]

I think that gorillas and orang utans are categorized in the genus of 'Macaca'.

[mith]

viewtopic.php?t=1150&start=0

[Dr.Stein]

I think that gorillas and orang utans are categorized in the genus of 'Macaca'.

Wrong. Gorillas (genus: Gorilla), orang Utans (genus: Pongo), and chimps (genus: Pan) are big apes, while macaques (genus: Macaca) are monkey

[Silverbackman]

Good topic that was listed, but the questions lies is it possible considering they are in the same family? Or is it impossible (or must they be in the same genus)?

[mith]

Read the definition for species. Interbreeding is not supposed to happen outside of species but occasionally it might happen even across phylums such as when the sea squirt and the sea urchin mate.

[Dr.Stein]

Also think about compatibility. Some animals blocked other animals' sperms from another species so there is no chance to fuse gamets and generating embryo. Sperms from another species animals, sometimes even from samespecies, can be categorized as nonself, so the immune system will attack them and eliminate them before they reach their destination, the ovum.

[Silverbackman]

Read the definition for species. Interbreeding is not supposed to happen outside of species but occasionally it might happen even across phylums such as when the sea squirt and the sea urchin mate.

It doesn't matter what species, I am talking about a hybrid. Since humans and chimps are in the same family they should be able to mate like a lion or tiger could, or a horse and mule. Of course it might only happen in genus, but I heard that it is more possible throuout the family.

[Silverbackman]

Also think about compatibility. Some animals blocked other animals' sperms from another species so there is no chance to fuse gamets and generating embryo. Sperms from another species animals, sometimes even from samespecies, can be categorized as nonself, so the immune system will attack them and eliminate them before they reach their destination, the ovum.

this might be true but is this for genuses, families, or beyond?

[Dr.Stein]

It could be among individual from a single species or subspecies, inter subspecies, species, genera, families, and beyond. Farther the relativity/relationship (in systematics) farther the incompatibility. That's why (mostly) different species cannot interbreed, moreover different genera, families etc. But in some case (special case) two different species can interbreed but still their offsprings are sterile. For example in fowls.

This incompatibility sometimes happened individually, within individual from a single species. For example in human. A couple cannot have a baby because there is incompatibility in ther reprodutive system, can be many things, for instance the female environment always rejects sperms etc.

[mith]

From my other post

Biologically, there are many barriers to prevent this from happening. For one, the sperm cells would not recognize the egg cell and the egg cell would probably not allow the sperm to enter. Secondly, even if conception did occur, the offspring would very probably abort at an early stage. Thirdly...who would want to have sex with a chimp?
There's a couple more barriers I've not mentioned but I think you get the idea.

P.S. The reason for sterility is because if the offspring has an odd number of chromosomes, it cannot separate its chomosomes during meiosis and produce haploid gametes.

[Dr.Stein]

...who would want to have sex with a chimp?

Do not forget, to have offspring, or children, we do not need to have sex