Relationship between Human and other Primate

                                 Relationship between Human and other Primate

            The hominid and ape families have been included in the Homo sapiens species. Several historical and anthropological evidence points out that humans have close similarities to the bonobos and the chimpanzees’ families. The connections have been recorded in the way that the three clusters of primates behave and their biological characteristics. Historians and researchers argue that human as well as primates are of the same family and points to Africa as their place of origin. However, many people are still hesitant to accept that humans are primates. Also, a good number of people have disproved the idea of all humans having the same origin Africa because of the differences in physical appearance. Research indicates that human and other primates such as chimpanzees and bonobos have similarities in body structures, internal organs arrangement, and bone structures. Furthermore, humans, bonobos, and chimpanzees have the same blood cells. This paper focuses on outlining the resemblances on behavioral and biological characteristic in human and ages.

Biological Similarities

            According to Tomkins, man has evolved over the centuries; experienced a characteristic loss of body hair and a significant brain development. However, the similarity in the structural appearance and biological features of human and the apes persist. Biological studies and research have proven that the DNA of human and apes have a match with close to 70 percent similarities. Tomkins, J. (2013).

 Also, the arrangement of internal organs of human matches that of chimpanzees and bonobos. For example, they both have the heart, kidney, stomach, and intestines in the same position and arrangements. The bone structures, as well as the limb formations of humans, have some degree of resemblance. There have been recorded incidences where bodies of apes such as bonobos and chimpanzees were being used in science classes to educate students on human anatomy because of their close resemblance.

Research has shown that human beings are gender dimorphic in that a majority of the male humans are more masculine and have larger body parts compared than compared to the female gender. The chimpanzees and the bonobos also have the same features; the male is more masculine, stronger, and have large body structures compared to the female bonobos and chimpanzees. The male chimpanzees and bonobos are more hairy with rough skin texture compared to their female counterparts. Humans have the same features, with men having more hair on their body parts as well as rough skin texture while the women have soft skin texture and less hair on their body. 

Behavioral Similarities

            It is safe to say that some characteristic behaviors of human beings are also evident in other primates such as bonobos and chimpanzees. For instance, a research film that was recorded at the Leipzig Zoo identified that both bonobos and chimpanzees have the instinct of saying “no” to matters that are not pleasant to them. The research film pointed out that bonobos could reject behavioral patterns or ideas of other bonobos and human being within the zoo. The same behavior was found in chimpanzees and other apes. For instance, it was recorded that the bonobos could deter the infants from clinging on trees branches that looked unsafe or playing with their food by shaking their heads. The bonobos could also shake their heads to prevent a human being from touching their babies.

            The shaking of heads by the primates such as bonobos could not necessarily indicate a rejection of issues but could not necessarily mean “no”. It is important to acknowledge that human beings have the same behavioral pattern. Researchers who were working on the Leipzig Zoo film concluded that the behavioral pattern of shaking heads among bonobos was mostly seen in adverse situations or incidences that presented a potential danger to the bonobos and their babies.

In another research film recorded in Arnhem Zoo, a comparable behavioral pattern was evident in a female chimpanzee. The chimpanzee could shake her head when her babies behaved in an undesirable way. Frans de Waal from the Emory University conducted research on the behavioral patterns of primates that indicated that both bonobos and chimpanzees could shake their heads in a similar manner as a man to reject ideas.

            Another behavioral characteristic found among the bonobos and chimpanzees that are analogous to that of a human being is the way in which they beg. Both the chimpanzees and bonobos make a hand gesture when begging for food in a similar manner that the people do. Chimpanzees and bonobos stretch one of their forelimbs and open their palms when asking for food from people or their counterparts. The same characteristic behavior is evident in human beings when begging for food and gifts in the streets or at home especially among the children. In Frans de Waal's research, he indicated that bonobos and chimpanzee appeared to be more humanlike and aggressive when begging for food. They could touch and tap their counterparts to attract their attention when begging for food. The same behavioral characteristic is also evident in human beings when they need attention. A person will tap the other person's shoulder when they need their attention.

            The other behavioral pattern evident among the bonobos and chimpanzees is the manner in which they cover their faces using their hands when they are shy or when they do not want to be disturbed. In a research done by Mark Laidre from the University of California, it was evident that the chimpanzees use one of their hands to cover their face when they feel threatened when they are shy, or when they do not want to be disturbed. Baby chimpanzees would cover their faces when threatened by the adult chimpanzees just as a human baby would cover his or her face when admonished by the parents. Also, the mother chimpanzees would use hand-waves and facial expression to reach out to their infants just like a human being would wave his or her hands and use facial expressions to reach out to a small baby who communicates.

 Chuckling is a typical behavior in people, especially when amused by some actions or when they are tickled. Some apes including the chimpanzees and bonobos giggle and laugh in the same manner as human beings when ticked. However, their laughter is low-pitched, unlike the human being's laughter. In fact, other behavioral patterns such as facial expression, waning, as well as waxing that accompany the human laughter are also evident among chimpanzees and bonobos. The similarities in the way these primates laugh to how people laugh are so close to the extent that anyone with understanding on vocalization may not refrain from these apes laugh. However, there are slight differences in human and ape laughter. For instance, people exhale as they holler while other apes including the chimpanzees and bonobos laugh with an alternating flow of air.

 Another behavioral continuum that is common in both human and other primates such as the bonobos and chimpanzees in the ability to pick faces. Chimpanzees and bonobos have the capacity to identify a particular face from a big crowd just like a human being would do. According to Boesch, human beings develop the ability to identify small facial variances and similarities among others when they are still young. Yong chimpanzees and bonobos can also identify differences in facial structures such as hairline and long noses. Other apes such as baboons and monkeys also have the same abilities to recognize faces. Studies have indicated that monkeys use the technique known as Thatcherized face identifies changes in a person’s face.

            The manner in which humans react to certain emotions such as stress and boredom have slight similarities in the way other primates such as chimpanzees and bonobos respond to the same feelings. For instance, some human beings will consume a lot of junk food when stressed and gain weight while others will eat less and reduce weight when they are stressed. Chimpanzees, bonobos, and other primates also react to stress and boredom by pacing, excessive body scratching, yawning, as well as self-grooming. Stresses chimpanzees and bonobos will also take less food compared to their counterparts. According to research performed at Yerkes National Primate Research Center on the types of food consumed by primates, it was recorded that most chimpanzees and bonobos would consume a lot of banana-flavored pellets instead of Purina food when they are stressed. Stressed primates would also eat a lot during the day and night while the less stressed primates only eat during the day.

 The chimpanzee has inspired the development some tools and devices used by human beings. The use of sex toys is a common phenomenon among the current generation. The ‘chimp vibrator’ is one of the sex toys and is associated with the chimpanzees. There are speculations that the idea to invent the chimp vibrator was borrowed from chimpanzees. The African chimpanzees use glass blade to extract termites and other insects from their mounds. The same concept was used when developing the chimp vibrator. Surprisingly, chimpanzees also use the same technique to pressurize themselves sexually. Also, chimpanzees and bonobos are among the few animals that have sex for pleasure and not for reproduction only. Human beings also have the sex for both pleasure and reproduction just as the human beings. There are also similarities in the sex positions of humans and other primates such as the chimpanzees and the bonobos.

            The other behavioral pattern that is evident in both human and other primates such as the chimpanzees and the bonobos is the manner in which they structure and manage their families. These apes live in groups and have hierarchies. Every team is headed by a male chimpanzee that is regarded as the king of the troop. The king is the protector of other primates and is also responsible for giving directions on where to go. The position can be challenged by other male chimpanzees in the troop through the demonstration of power. It is important to acknowledge that the human family also operate in the same way. The man is the protector, as well as the head of the family and leadership positions, are also challenged in the human society though in a more organized manner. 

Conclusion

            There have been several research and discussions on the behavioral and biological similarities between man and other primates. These studies have created theories and speculations indicating that there could be possibilities that man evolved from the ape families. Other theories also suggest that human beings and other primates have the same place of origin in Africa. Despite the refutation from a significant amount of people, scientist and researchers have tried to prove the similarities in behavioral and biological characteristics of man and other primates. Apes such as the chimpanzees and bonobos have been found to have similar body structures as well as similar internal organs arrangements. Some of the behavioral patterns such as hand gestures, and head shaking to communicate information that is rational of human beings are also evident in other primates such as the chimpanzees and bonobos.