[richsinn]

Furthermore, this kind of stuff always makes me wonder if/when other genus will eventually evolve into "intelligent" beings (with "intelligent" being loosely defined).

The Homo genus evolved around ~2-3 million years ago; homo sapiens came about ~250K years ago. What's not to say that 2 to 3 million years from now, there'll be some other intelligent species from other genus branches? It always tickles my brain to think about this.

Also relevant: https://io9.gizmodo.com/5780020/if-humanity-went-extinct-wha...

[nickspacek]

I've had the same thought. Unfortunately at the rate we wipe out other species I don't know that they'll get the chance! But when debating conservation efforts for various species it does seem like there is the possibility that on one hand we could be allowing the extinction of a species on the cusp of "intelligence".