A Compelling Study
And by extension we should also consider the relationship of the entire Great Ape family tree in the sphere of human occupation. If we can lump in the Neandertal group as a subspecies of the homo group with a lineage that dates back hundreds of thousands of year and still call them possible ancestors, then why do we not honor the same relationship with our ancestral lines from the other Great Apes. This provides a strong argument for the recognition of rights that should be conveyed to our Great Ape brethren. If we now, as modern humans, can recognize the silliness of separation because of race within the species, we can also do the same when considering the relationship of DNA within others in our family tree. Species matter little, just as much as race.
As we continue to examine the DNA of all living forms, a pattern emerges that suggests an interconnected web of life that argues for a continuum of relatedness among all living organisms. One of the distinguishing characteristics between humans and other animals is the choice of conscience that is involved with our decision to be compassionate to all other living creatures. By sanctifying life we honor our ancestors as well as our fellow life forms. An argument can be made that war and killing, including both inter and intra-species, are antithetical to the continuing existence of our species. A spirit of peaceful coexistence within the entire animal kingdom is possibly the key to a future that will allow our own continuation as a species. Otherwise, Neandertal might not be the only extinct subspecies within the homo group.
