How “human” are our closest relatives? Very - Bonobos can use English words, humans can speak their language, they can sit at a dinner table and use silverware. They have feelings and say I’m sorry. And enjoy adult human magazines. Current Radiolab podcast
How “human” are our closest relatives? Very - Bonobos can use English words, humans can speak their language, they can sit at a dinner table and use silverware. They have feelings and say I’m sorry. And enjoy adult human magazines. Current Radiolab podcast
questionCurrent episode. Lucy
Are you answering your own question? Twice?
Déjà vu all over again
Bonobots.
Why would you ask the question then answer it yourself and still post it?
The gap between our conciousness and that of apes or other mammals is much smaller than many would like to believe
This has been bothering me recently. Bit of cognitive dissonance on veganism especially because I just can't seem to justify eating meat like I used to. The animals scream all day because their life is unnatural torture, how have we swept it under the rug for so long?
Please cite your sources.
User deleted comment
14d
What are Radiolab’s sources?
All primary sources. Including talking to the bonobos.
Okay that was cold... but funny!
Thank you
98.7% That 1.3% difference in DNA represents 5-7m years of changes on both sides, since our last common ancestor with Chimpanzee/Bonobos. On our side it includes the ability to walk bipedally, a curved spine that can support itself when we are walking and rearranging our organs so that they don't fall into our pelvis while we are walking. Also getting bigger, including a bigger brain which supports a larger language centre, genes for fine motor control and a modified larynx that allow us to make complex vocalisations and choke to death on a hot dog, more reasoning ability and more complex social behaviours.
I recall some of what you listed above is a difference in gene expression, rather than a difference in genes.
And how you change gene expression in cells in a heritable way? By changing the sequences of bases in promoters, or that effect the structure of DNA or that produce the RNAs that do post-transcription processing and regulation of mRNAs or through the heritable methylation of bases in epigenetics or by duplications or deletions of genes.
There going to be changes in DNA somewhere that caused it.
I believe some things are possible (silverware... ok if they're taught young), believe some things are beyond question (bonobos have feelings), but I don't believe bonobos can speak English. Being able to make certain sounds isn't a function of intelligence but of the larynx.
Did you listen to the podcast? You would not be saying that if you had.
In the podcast, there is no recorded evidence of Kanzi speaking English words, only Bill saying he does. The only thing we hear in the podcast is a series of squeals and sounds that the researchers have interpreted as words. Even the guys on the podcast say the science isn't there for us to definitively say that bonobos can speak our language (the timestamp is 10 minutes, 16 seconds). You're really reading a lot more into this podcast than is shown in it.
Not the person, but i havent had a chance yet to listen. Did the bonobo SPEAK? Or type?
Another great example is Kanzi the Bonobo.
You are right.
In a world of chimpanzees… be a bonobo.
Be the bonobo you want to see in the world
What Radiolab episode are you listening to?