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How Similar Are Human and Chimp Genomes, Really? Quantifying Genetic Difference Isn't Straightforward by Nathan H. Lents
Nathan H. Lents explains why genome comparisons are complex and shows that humans and chimpanzees remain 98–99% genetically similar, despite creationist Casey Luskin's misrepresentation of new data. He warns that such distortions reflect broader attempts by ideologues to undermine science and push pseudoscience into classrooms.
Read this article and find accompanying references at:
https://secularhumanism.org/2025/09/how-similar-are-human-and-chimp-genomes-really-quantifying-genetic-difference-isnt-straightforward/
About the Author: Nathan H. Lents, PhD, is professor of biology at John Jay College of The City University of New York, visiting professor of forensic biology at the University of Lincoln (U.K.), and an elected fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI). In addition to his research interests in genome evolution and forensic genetics, he is an active science writer and media commentator and is the author of three books: Not So Different, Human Errors, and the forthcoming The Sexual Evolution.
Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/
Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.
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By Center for InquiryNathan H. Lents explains why genome comparisons are complex and shows that humans and chimpanzees remain 98–99% genetically similar, despite creationist Casey Luskin's misrepresentation of new data. He warns that such distortions reflect broader attempts by ideologues to undermine science and push pseudoscience into classrooms.
Read this article and find accompanying references at:
https://secularhumanism.org/2025/09/how-similar-are-human-and-chimp-genomes-really-quantifying-genetic-difference-isnt-straightforward/
About the Author: Nathan H. Lents, PhD, is professor of biology at John Jay College of The City University of New York, visiting professor of forensic biology at the University of Lincoln (U.K.), and an elected fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI). In addition to his research interests in genome evolution and forensic genetics, he is an active science writer and media commentator and is the author of three books: Not So Different, Human Errors, and the forthcoming The Sexual Evolution.
Subscribe to Free Inquiry: https://secularhumanism.org/subscribe/
Free Inquiry Audio Edition is a production of The Council for Secular Humanism and the Center for Inquiry.