How often do people mindlessly repeat: “Well, you are an animal!” But in fact, is it true or not? Are there any similarities between humans and animals? Let's try to comprehensively consider this issue and sort out the facts.
Similarities at the cellular level
Scientists have long been collecting evidence that humans and animals have a common origin. The main evidence of kinship is the similarity of all living beings at the cellular level. To begin with, all organisms are basically built from cells.
Essentially, each of them consists of the same elements and has the same proteins and nucleic acids.
Signs of similarity between humans and animals are especially striking when considering the species that have climbed the evolutionary ladder the most. So, for example, found a huge similarity in the composition of the DNA of humans and primates. The match was 66% with the macaque, but 92% with the chimpanzee.
However, such a high percentage of matching in DNA does not actually make humans and chimpanzees completely identical. Primates have two more chromosomes. And alsohumans, unlike chimpanzees, have far fewer genetic variations.
Similarities and differences in structure
The similarity of people and animals can be traced already at the level of tissue structure. Organs mainly consist of many of its layers that have an anatomical relationship. Homo sapiens and representatives of the fauna have similar organs, and at a high stage of evolution, similar body parts. In addition, they have a physiological connection between the tissues of the organs, which is responsible for the overall functionality of the body.
The similarities between the human and animal skeletons are well traced. In mammals and humans, it has the same sections - it consists of the head, body, upper and lower limbs.
This is especially noticeable when compared with a monkey. The hand of both is able to freely compress and decompress. There is an identity in the opposition of the thumb - it is, as it were, aloof from the other four. The presence of nails can be attributed to the obvious similarity of the brush.
Considering the structure of the skeleton of a human and an animal using the example of a primate, they note the similarity of the shoulder girdle and the strong development of the clavicles, which allows performing complex hand movements.
Continuing the study, scientists examined the skull of a human and a primate. Here, too, there are common features. It is about the size and location of the eyes.
The similarities and differences between man and animal are manifested in the presence of rudimentary organs. Examples are the appendix, the epicanthus (third eyelid), and the coccyx. In animals, these organs are completelycertain functions, but a person does not actually need them. But their presence makes homo sapiens related to representatives of the animal world.
A very important difference is bipedalism. The muscles of the legs of a person are highly developed, and his spine has several bends, which makes it possible to vertically position the body when walking. The internal organs are supported by a special position of the pelvis, and the foot has an arch that makes walking easier.
The chimpanzee also often gets up and moves vertically. However, for these animals, movement on 4 legs is preferable. When trying to do this on two legs, the body of the animal is tilted forward, and the pelvis does not support the internal organs.
Determining the similarities and differences between humans and animals, it is worth noting that in primates the structure of the foot is arranged differently. In addition to a high arch, a person has 5 fingers located in front, while in a chimpanzee the big toe is protruding. This allows the animal to hold on to its toes, climb trees well and move diagonally.
Similarities between humans and animals - brain size and development
The brain of a human and an animal has not only a different volume, but also a different organization structure. Its surface area is larger in homo sapiens than, for example, in chimpanzees. Accordingly, people have more convolutions, which means that the connections between brain regions are higher.
The frontal lobe in the human brain has a larger volume than that of a primate, and this allows the first to have an abstractthinking and logic.
Intrauterine development
Here you can see a clear similarity between people and animals. Both of these entities begin development from a fertilized egg. Rapid cell division forms organs and tissues, and the appearance of the human embryo is very similar to the embryos of other animals. For example, the embryo has the rudiments of gill slits (a heritage of fish). He has a cloaca (heritage of egg-laying). The tail section is visible for a long time.
Even the brain of a human fetus goes through several stages of development. Initially, it consists of several bubbles, which strongly resembles the brain of a fish. In the process of development, the cerebral hemispheres increase, and convolutions appear on their cortex.
Language, speech
Virtually all animals have an intelligible language within their species. And only a person has a well-developed speech. Representatives of the fauna are characterized by communication using gestures. In human communication, they also play a big role - they help to perceive speech information, but do not completely replace it.
Oral communication of animals mainly consists of calls, characteristic sounds, hisses and vocals. The human vocal cords are much more complex, which allows you to reproduce more sounds, and the development of the brain makes it possible to put them into coherent speech.
Due to the ability to speak, homo sapiens has a developed tongue and lips and a protruding chin. Most of his labial muscles are anchored in his lower jaw under his chin. Animal that is closest in development to humanschimpanzee - has a sloping chin, since he simply does not have most of the labial muscles.
Mimicry
People have a clear similarity in the expression of emotions and facial expressions with primates. Facial expressions and gestures for a representative of the fauna are a big part of communication. For a person, speech is more essential, but emotions also play a big role.
There is a difference in the expression of joy in an animal and in a person who smiles and shows his teeth. For an animal, it serves as an expression of aggression and a show of strength.
Socialization
An important role in determining the similarities and differences between humans and animals is played by socialization. Many animals live in packs and communities. If you watch a family of monkeys, you can see that they care for each other, show tenderness and play with each other or with offspring. Chimpanzees, for example, tend to be friendly, groom their friends' coats, and spend a lot of time together.
A person also spends a lot of time communicating, but communicates more verbally than by touch.
Primates create social groups that can include up to 50 close friends. People tend to have a wider circle of acquaintances. His group can include up to 200 friends. These figures reflect the correspondence between the brain sizes of those being compared.
Labor and tools
Almost all animals are involved in creative activities. However, only a person can create complex tools and plan their actions. In addition, it can quickly changeplans as the case may be.
Only simple tools are available for animals. A monkey, for example, is able to use a stick or a stone.
In addition, a person divides his activities by age and gender. Male and female animals can also perform different tasks, but most often the right of the strong works.
Using Fire
Scientists believe that human development has greatly spurred the production and use of fire. It was this factor that allowed homo sapiens to stand out from the natural environment. Fire made it possible to process food and not depend on the deterioration of the climate. Man began to actively engage in agriculture, as he learned to preserve the harvest. In addition, the total population of the Earth has increased.
For animals, this skill remains unavailable. They see the fire as a threat and perceive it as an enemy.
Religion
Having developed and acquired many useful skills, man no longer wanted to consider himself a representative of the animal world. It was much more pleasant to invent higher powers and believe in the origin from them. The timid remarks of scientists about the similarity of people and animals began to be suppressed. But the facts are inexorable - we can manipulate them or ignore them, but we cannot change them.
Now you know the similarities between humans and animals, and you also know the differences between them. There is a great power in evolution that has enabled us to become intelligent. Most importantly, use your mind for good.
Exploring similarities anddifferences between humans and animals, we can conclude: homo sapiens has a huge number of factors that distinguish it from representatives of the fauna, but at the same time, similarity (especially with primates) gives a clear picture that nature at the initial stage of evolution put identical inclinations into them.
