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L LF E L | N E S Sc1ent1flc and cultural perceptions of humanity Herman Muller once cemarked that we humans are \hastily made over apes ~ He had also once asked, rheton cally, whether \life was a particularly fancy fust\ found on the surfave of the earth. In lus first remark Muller made hus students reflect on the consequences of our crowded paws (most of you have to have your wisdom teeth pulled) and our achy backs (walling upright is not the easiest thing for former quadrupeds or knuckle walkers to do). In his second remark it was clear that Muller believed we lived by values. and choices, a presently dangerous thing to do considering the track record of eugenics in the 20th century At least at an unconscious level. such selection may be goingon as we choose our part ners for factors for personality as well as looks and a capacity to earn a decent In mg 1 find it strange that those who are offended by an ape-like ancestry for humanity do so because they feel it demeans human dignity. Yet humanity has a sorry record of murder. aggres- sion, war. deception. our life was not just something we should think of in chemical or biological terms. I am not at all offend- ed that our distant pro- gemtors were ape-like. One reason monkeys and apes appeal to us in zoos is that we can't help but feel that they are the most human-like of amnmals. They express anger, a sense of humor. hypoonsy and selfishness which can be quite hom fying at times. I do not blame this on our evolutionary past. because 1 would be defaming primates who for the most part five sue cessfully im communities It takes a lot of teaching. discipline. loving, and set- ung good examples for our own children to learn to be decent human playfulness. frustration and other human behav- 10rs as we watch them. BY ELOF CARLSON beings. Our larger and more effectively orga- I have seen apes un- nate on a crowd and fling feces at onlookers. What it tells me is that (Humanity has a sorry record of murder, aggression, mzed brains give ous a capacity for culture. val ues and self-reflection Each of us can assuumi late thousands of expen- however \hasuly made , ences and retain those over\ we might be War, deception, memories. Our relatively through evolutionary ; long life 1s also an advan- processes, the capacity hypocrisy and tage and most of us, as we for humans to keep our seffishness which get older, become more emotions in check is far . mellow and less irritable better than the apes we can be quite about the famrlures of observe. Our brains give horrifying at times. younger people and soci- us a potential for cavi- ety itself. We know that lization that apes lack. As species go we are still young. We have been around as Homo sapiens for about 100,000 years. which is about ten percent of the life of a speaes lf there is a future evolution our choice of mates. those mm {under caring. and more talented abilities may predominate in a future humanity 100.000 or more years from now For too many people that 1s too long to wait, and some would love to put evolution into our own reproductive neither people nor their institutions are perfect. but we learn to navigate a life doing as httle harm to ourselves or to others It took more than 3 tbilhon years to evolve life on earth. It does not disap- point -me that scientists» in one thirty millionth of that time have barely scratched the surface on how our brains work. Elof Arel Carlson is a distinguished teaching professor emeritus in the Department of Brochenustrv and Cell Biotogy at Stony Brook University. mm-bttaonrcdan nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn 828 W ooooooo fivttofl..-t.a.¢....---...a...--.o.-----o--..‘B$5 emboq-va'cnt' vvvvv wow s e soe 4 woe a m roe woe # eos aoe e s e soe ant-M3 A C alw v « a » & soe e 6 e & wom eon % 6 ow a 66 Moe dG ov & dob w ov soa soe e v a e v aoa ti\;m~ ma‘wanmtmw mm641:touvrvoc1.1599onynocyacootfiritiau-anuo‘unumnM‘ m lvv§i9‘6$1081UbfiOéhfit‘pildcvlfiblfilillfififiltll'tOi-tfiutu‘m ’QCA,uhw'bOutgoifliv'ufikawakrttvoltlntqi-ccttioyamr WWObtithntwt-Ol’ttbittnbttfiflfinfiittfipanainnam‘alz Mn:yttgcptjyitair‘fiaiqfifliifli}5A!iilluttwiuiittvt‘lvttw L '~mIi’ll‘il'fikip;itfififitt‘l'i'wvvtfivéo‘vat‘ttcvwbtfi-udtmcifl‘mp - . mm a»nib-owctthIEQdkfiictlufita‘hfintdutthatnuntutt¢pm PERSONAL & CARING 4mm and Smgédl éupm FULL LINE OF HOME HEALTH CARE SUPPLIES Diabetic * Respiratory * Surgical * Orthotics Support Hosiery * Crutches * Canes e Wheelchairs e Walkers Commodes * Incontinence, Ostomy & Wound Care Supplies Full Line Of Braces & Supports Including Carpal Tunnel & Specialists In Diabetes Care Certified Diabetic Educator Nutrition Counseling, On Premises Weight Loss, Cardmvascuhr & Orthopedic & Diabetic Shoes & Diabetes Programs & Inserts & Board Certified Mastectomy & Orthotic Fitter On Premises FREE DELIVERY | & Private Fitting Room Full Line Of Mastectomy Products, Breast Forms & Bras lymphedema Products & Garments 60 & 56 ECHO AVE., MILLER PLACE : 642-8175 Surgicals: 476-8230 onpEer Fax: 642-8178 Fax: 476-8241 REFILLS Hours: Mon. 9-8, Tues. & Wed. 9-7, Thurs. 9-8. 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