Biological and Behavioral Relations between Human Beings and other Primates
Debate that will never end soon starts when human origin or root is questioned. Where did human beings come from? Is there any relationship between man and other primate species? These questions were answered through the Darwin’s theory of evolution (Havilland 62). The evolution theory states that human beings underwent gradual evolution from the remote primate to a more complex type of primate known as human being. With the help of relevant examples, there exists to be a connection between human beings and primates.
The first relationship can be seen from a biological perspective. Human beings and other primates both have similar physicality. Through numerous researches done, it can be shown that human beings and primates have large size of brain. The difference is minimal. The natures in which they use their biological structure to perform activities are closely related. Monkeys and Baboon plus other members of this class use the hands to grasp object or food. Similar scenario occurs in the human beings (Havilland 62). In the zoo, monkeys are often seen to grab the banana by hand and remove the cover before eating it. Biologically the two groups have similar number of fingers in each hand. This is a show of relation between human beings and primates.
In most cases, gorillas are seen walking upright. This illustrates the common ancestor human beings and primates share. The manner in which they eat and what they eat are closely related. Blood composition of the primates and human beings are of 1% difference only. This close observation demonstrates the root humans and primates share (White 45). This also makes them the most convenient species for several experiments. The dental arrangement shares certain similarities in human beings and primate. An example is the fact that canines in primate are not projected same as in human beings.
Social interaction in the two worlds is closely related. It is noted that human beings live in groups primarily for security and support. In the world of other primates, monkeys, baboons, gorillas and chimpanzees live in groups for security and support. Boundaries are marked in the jungle as in human lives (White 45). Within these groups, there is a clear social order, which members must adhere to. In human lives, there is the head of the family, the king of the society or president of a country. The occupants of these offices are highly respected by their subjects or juniors. In the jungle, among other primates, there are heads of specific groups. Social order in the group is maintained and respected by the animals.
No junior member of the group undermines the authority of the older members. Mating rights are earned and wrong habits punished. There are wars within and outside the group. During wars, primates take sides and fight for good of their team. There is a sense of ‘we’ feeling among primate. So when it comes to war, it is always ‘us against them’. This type of reaction is visible in the human world. The ‘we’ feeling leads to formation of groups and norms are set on how to become a member of the group (White 45). Rules govern activities going on within the group. Children respect their senior members of the society and bad habits are punished in the human world. The way human being treat their young ones is almost similar to the way primates treat their young ones. The manner in which they carry them is similar in both accounts. All these illustrates that human beings share certain behavioral and biological continuum with other primates (Havilland 62).
Works Cited
White, L. A. (2007). The evolution of culture: the development of civilization to the fall of Rome. Walnut Creek: Left Coast.
Haviland, W. A. (2007). Cultural anthropology: The human challenge. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
