WHEN it comes to scientific facts, the identity of our closest living relative is about as certain as they get. Genome sequencing has confirmed to the satisfaction of pretty much everybody that this dubious honour goes to chimpanzees.
Yet this week sees the publication of a paper that seeks to blow that fact out of the water. The authors argue that the DNA evidence is flawed and that, based on traditional taxonomy, orang-utans are clearly closer to us than chimps (see “Are orang-utans our nearest relatives?”).
It’s true the locals call orangs the “people of the forest”. But recall the old saying about extraordinary claims…
