Guess Which Animal Is Most Like Humans? (Hint: It’s Not Chimps)
- Posted by: Siobhan O'Connor
- on March 27, 2009 at 11:48 am
So, here’s something: Scientists have determined that while genetic similarities make us closely related to occasionally vicious but generally agreeable chimpanzees, we actually have more in common with another animal! Can you guess which one?
Being personally afraid of this particular animal, I can’t say this is the best news I’ve heard all week, though it certainly is interesting. When it comes to understanding language, emotional state, and behavioral similarities, turns out scientists are better off studying another animal altogether. Which confirms that man really is a bit of a DOG.
“In my view, pet dogs can be regarded in many respects as ‘preverbal infants in canine’s clothing,’” said the Hungarian scientist behind the study, adding that dogs “performed surprisingly well and at a comparable level to the 16-month-old child.”
I wonder what Jane would have to say about this?
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DISCUSSION: 6 Comments
Man’s best friend
My dog is smarter than many of my adult friends.
My dog is smarter than me. He just took my job. Needless to say, we are not on speaking terms anymore.
cats are more like smart humans.
It’s not a big surprise. Dogs have been domesticated by humans for a very, very, very long time. Unlike other domesticated animals, dogs are one of the few (if not only, remember, cats are only partially domesticated by comparison, and other animals, like mice, birds, snakes, even guinea pigs and rabbits exist primarily as wild critters) that are domesticated for companionship as well as for specific tasks. It’s no wonder over time that the ability to understand humans has been somewhat bred into them.
BTW, I’m soooo a cat person and not a dog person.