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Right-handed chimpanzees provide clues to the origin of human language
"hemispheric lateralization" for language may have its evolutionary roots in the gestural communication of our common ancestors. A large majority of the chimpanzees in the study showed a significant bias towards right-handed gestures when communicating, which may reflect a similar dominance of the left hemisphere for communication in chimpanzees as that seen for language functions in humans.
Human-Chimp Gene Comparison Hints at Roots of Language | Wired Science | Wired.com
By comparing how a gene critical for language works in humans and chimpanzees, researchers have identified an entire network of genes involved in the incredible linguistic powers of Homo sapiens.
Human Evolution: Our Closest Living Relatives, the Chimps | LiveScience
As scientists try and solve and mystery of how we originated, an invaluable source of clues is the chimpanzee.
Frans de Waal, David Sloan Wilson and Group Selection : The Primate Diaries
David Sloan Wilson currently has a response to my review "Survival of the Kindest" up at Seedmagazine.com. In his response he suggests that Dawkinsian critics such as Frans de Waal and Joan Roughgarden have adopted a group selection perspective in all but name
Humanity’s Upright Gait May Have Roots In Trees / Science News
A new analysis of apes’ wrist bones suggests that a two-legged stride evolved from tree climbing, not ground-based knuckle-walking
Restating the case for human uniqueness
A brilliant new book cuts through all the media-oriented research about ‘clever chimps’ using tools, doing maths and feeling emotions, and reminds us that, in truth, there is nothing remotely human about primates. by Helene Guldberg (sp!ked review of books)
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despite the very small difference in the gene coding sequence between humans and chimps, some of the important genetic differences are in genes that regulate a whole host of other genes.
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‘Understanding that a demonstrator intends his actions to make something, allied to detailed copying of every move he makes, allied to the reciprocal understanding in the demonstrator’s mind that he knows something you don’t and therefore has to teach you it, produces a potent ratchet effect.’
Chimps, Like Humans, Focus On Faces
A chimp's attention is captured by faces more effectively than by bananas. A series of experiments suggests that the apes are wired to respond to faces in a similar manner to humans.
Apes may imitate but they struggle to innovate
For all their cognitive prowessMovie Camera, chimpanzees will never build four-stroke engines, stone pyramids, or even a simple wheel. - 22 July 2009 - New Scientist
HOW DID HUMANS COME DOWN FROM THE TREES AND WHY DID NO ONE FOLLOW? By Vanessa Woods & Brian Hare
Edge: OUT OF OUR MINDS:
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Bonobos share more DNA (98.7 percent) with us than they do with gorillas
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A theory of mind allows for complex social behaviors, such as military strategies, and the formation of institutions, such as governments.
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Percontations: Humanity’s Primate Heritage
Bloggingheads.tv - Frans de Waal and Jeffrey Schloss
Monkeys feel regret like humans, study shows
Monkeys to feel regret and learn from their mistakes just like humans, according to a new study.
Scientist Finds the Beginnings of Morality in Primate Behavior
Biologists argue that these and other social behaviors are the precursors of human morality. They further believe that if morality grew out of behavioral rules shaped by evolution, it is for biologists, not philosophers or theologians, to say what these rules are.
Delayed brain development in humans compared with other primates
A prevailing view is that the appearance of many human-specific features during development has been made possible by a slowing down of the process, particularly in the brain (developmental retardation, or neoteny). Somel et al. prove the point by looking at gene expression in humans and other primates during developmen
Genetic neoteny - how delayed genes separate human brains from chimps
Take our brains, for example. In the brains of humans, chimps and many other mammals, the genes that are switched on in the brain change dramatically in the first few years of life. But Mehmet Somel from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology has found that a small but select squad of genes, involved in the development of nerve cells, are activated much later in our brains than in those of other primates. (Not Exactly Rocket Science)
Chimpanzee collects ammo for "premeditated" tourist-stoning
In 1997, Swedish inspectors found several stockpiles of missiles hidden in a local zoo. Apparently, the arsenal had been gathered together for the express purpose of being used against civilians. And who was the mastermind behind this collection? A 19-year-old chimpanzee called Santino. (Not Exactly Rocket Science)
Monkeys have a sense of morality, say scientists
MONKEYS and apes have a sense of morality and the rudimentary ability to tell right from wrong, according to new research. (Times Online)
Chimps show that actions spoke louder than words in language evolution
To understand the role of gestures in the origins of human language, Amy Pollick and Frans de Waal decided to see how they are used by our closest relatives - the chimpanzee and the bonobo. (Not Exactly Rocket Science)
Are dogs (and chimps) really inequity-averse?
We all like making connections between animals and humans. It seems that the closer animals are to humans, the easier it will be to explain the human phenomenon. But it may not help social and cognitive scientists to go too far too fast.
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However, this does not show that monkeys are averse to inequity, only that they reject a lesser reward when better rewards are available. It can also be frustration or envy or even discouragement?
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although they hunt collectively, neither dogs nor chimps seem to take into account individual contributions to the hunt when sharing meat (see here for instance). There is also evidence that chimps don't care about other's welfare,
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