Re: What came before the ape in that particular evolutionary branch

Martin:

Evolution by natural selection is not as linear or progressive or simple as 
you may wish it to be.  Humans as primates developed in a complex 
evolutionary scenario for millions of years.  The first primates were tiny 
critters (tiny because they lived at the tail end of the dinosaur age about 
65 or 70 million years ago).  Once the dinosaurs were extinct the door was 
opened for the primates to grow larger and exploit more of the environment. 
Note again that these early primates were very small and it wasn't until 
many millions of years later (and a complex evolutionary process of natural 
selection) that anything resembling apes evolved.  There was (to the best 
of my knowledge) no dog phase. American Werewolves in London is most likely 
just a myth promulgated by filmmakers out to make a buck, but fun 
pseudoscience nevertheless.

Dr. Smerken