Relationship with primates

Relationship with primates

Only 100 years ago, many people considered it beneath their dignity to have something in common with other creatures, especially monkeys.

The similarity of humans to the great apes and especially to the chimpanzee attracted biologists more than 200 years ago. At that time z. For example, the Swedish naturalist CARL VON LINNÉ in his work "Systema Naturae" introduced humans to the order of primates, which he called "master animals".

Special features that distinguish man from all other animals are his upright walk and the training of his brain.

In the course of man's development from animal ancestors, the upright gait developed. This was associated with numerous changes in the skeleton, z. As the double-S-shaped curvature of the spine for better cushioning from the ground, the widening and shovel-like formation of the pelvis as an enlarged surface of origin for the gluteal muscles, extension of the legs, reduction of the facial skull, enlargement of the skull.

If one compares the brain mass of humans (about 1350 g) and gorilla (about 430 g), then it turns out that humans despite smaller body mass has the much larger brain. The close relationship of apes and humans becomes particularly clear, if one considers the condition of the teeth more exactly.

The dental crowns of the molars have the same pattern on the occlusal surface, which results from the number of bumps and furrows.

This dental crown pattern must have originated at a time when the ancestors of the apes and man were still united in a common heirloom.

The larger correspondences between apes and humans are hidden. They have only been known to us for about 50 years.

Thus, the same blood and serum groups also occur in apes. The chimpanzee chromosomes are almost identical in structure to those of humans. Only one chromosome pair of the chimpanzee is missing from humans.