The Second Bonobo?

A curious piece this, about the work of long-time heretic Jeffrey Schwartz (together with John Grehan) in claiming that molecular taxonomic evidence (based on similarity of DNA sequence) gives a false picture of the family tree of the higher primates - the great apes and us. In fact, Schwartz rejects the DNA evidence that we humans are more closely related to the chimpanzee and bonobo in favour of his interpretation of a more classical taxonomic approach which suggests to them that both orangs and humans evolved from an orang-like ancestor with a huge geographical range spanning Africa to South-East Asia. According to Schwartz this ancestral population dwindled and split, leaving rump populations in both Africa and Asia, the former giving rise to hominins, the latter to modern-day orangutans. New Scientist also publishes, in the same edition, an almost apologetic editorial which acknowledges widespread scorn and rejection of Schwartz's hypothesis before special pleading that the voice of heresy must he heard because, every once in a while, orthodox science is proved wrong and a new Galileo emerges. I would always run with the molecular data which accords Schwartz an emphatic "Non!!" However, read it and decide what you think......