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Everyone knows that chimpanzees are one of the our closest animal cousins. However does anyone really know exactly how related we are to this species? Scientists have recently discovered yet another similarity between humans and chimpanzees that is forcing them to think we have more in common with chimps than we could have ever imagined.
According to the article “Chimps Warn Their Unaware Friends of Dangers” by Dan Vergano of USA Today, a method of communication between humans and chimps has been discovered earlier this year. This method of communication is strangely human. Field biologists report that chimps are known to warn their unaware companions when danger is near, but new studies show that they do not bother warning other chimpanzees already aware of the dangers. This is said to be a “kind of cleverness once seen as unique to people.” Researchers are shocked that the chimpanzee is such a conscious animal. Not only are they conscious of the danger around them, but they are smart enough to notice if a companion has acknowledged the danger as well.
An experiment was conducted to further support this evidence. Biologist Catherine Crockford monitored 33 different chimp’s reactions to fake snakes placed in their paths. The study showed that the chimps almost never voiced an alert to other chimps that had also seen the snakes, but they were twice as likely to warn other chimps oblivious to the danger.
The article states that, “Chimps do partly understand each others' intentions, a kind of awareness believed essential to language skills.” Scientists are very hopeful that this discovery will lead to a greater understanding of the relationship between humans and chimpanzees.
This article connects to biology because it is about the evolution of animals. The article shows the ways in which humans and chimpanzees are similar. This article is also connected with biology because it shows how we evolved from chimpanzees. I learned by reading the article that because we evolved from the chimpanzee, we share many traits with them. I think it is important that we learn about our closest relative because in the process we can learn a lot about ourselves.
I think it is interesting that biologists are still finding new ways in which we are similar to other animals. There are many physical characteristics that we share with chimps, like our thumbs, but there are also mental characteristics that we share as well. After reading this article, the process of evolution became clear to me.