Humans are the Monsanto of the tree of life.

Yep.
Humans are not any more or less "special" than any other life form.
We're just FAR more arrogant about the importance of our existence.

IMO the tree model is a poor one to use when speaking of the procession of life. Life is more like a rope, with each fiber of the rope representing the lifetime of a single organism. I agree that we are not at the pinnacle of evolution—we are just somewhere along the rope. A single fiber or a single body is of little significance.

To identify with the entire rope is a great leap forward.I am not an individual body—I am the rope from beginning to end. I doubt very seriously if conscious awareness arose somewhere along the rope through random mutations and natural selection. My feeling is that conscious awareness is an inherent quality of the rope itself and of underlying reality. Interesting that no mention is made in the article of epigenetics. By sweeping epigenetics under the carpet, perhaps we avoid scary challenges to our world views.

It's the web of life. Everytime a species disappears it weakens the web. We regard ourselves as special. We are not.

Thank you for this. I wonder if this group has a connection with the Humanist in this country.

Do I agree, absolutely, for sure, unquestioningly and without reservation. It is so obvious to anyone who has even a bit of knowledge. I am surprised the British support the church as they do. I wonder if that applies to all the other religious sects in the country.

A overzealous twig that is trying to pull down the whole tree mabey.

Diseased twig.

We are a twig, and an especially dangerous one. Life, as in the earth and all of the living things that inhabit it, would be much better off without us humans.

We're not special anymore than a little squirrel is

I do agree as far as the tree of life is concerned, but humans are special and unique as far as humanity is concerned.

4 billion years. Wees bees barely a bud.

"Twig" as in "on the ground?"

Duh?

I agree, I'm also saddened to say we have introduced many diseases and inappropriate organisms that may very likely kill the tree.

pretty sure the word tree in the phrase tree of life gives a hint that there are other forms of life.

It seems to be one reasoned way of interpreting life.

Hans Gruber: Who are you then?
John McClane: Just a fly in the ointment, Hans. The monkey in the wrench. The pain in the ass.

If you are referring to Phylogeny and Evolution, yes.

Agree

I prefer branch, but twig works also.