How are humans different from other primates?

Answer 1

1. Aside from the obvious (I'd like to see an ape post on wiki answers) Go to 4th paragraph for answer.
2. If you want to see an ape post type in the question posted below.
3. How are human beings different from apes?
4. Humans are apes. Mostly we differ from other apes in the size of the associative cortex in our brains, our hairless skin, our size, and our erect posture. Humans are actually more similar to chimpanzees than chimpanzees are to any other species of ape, genetically speaking. Other than that, we vary in our immune system, some organ functions, and structure, to some degree.

Answer 2

Yes, even though I'm a 6th grader I know that chimpanzees are different from humans but have the same characteristics of humans so yes we are slightly different than a chimpanzee. But overall chimpanzees are nothing like us.

Answer 3

This is partly a question of definition; some biologist would classify humans as apes, in that case, there is no difference. Until fairly recently, most biologists classified humans as hominids - separate from apes. The problem with this is that chimpanzees are more closely related to humans than they are to other apes, so something was clearly wrong.

Recently chimpanzees and gorillas have been reclassified as hominids (along with humans).

So, having got that out of the way!

There aren't that many definite differences:

Humans walk upright, most apes are knuckle walkers. This may be because its slightly more efficient to walk upright when travelling long distances - a common theory is that early humans were nomads; it looks likely that walking upright predates language, so it's a relatively old adaptation. It also frees up our hands to carry weapons and use tools, but that behavior probably became important much later. The downside is that humans get backache - because the backbone is balanced vertically rather than supported on four legs.

Humans can hold their breath, no other existing ape or hominid can do that - its to do with the way the tubes are arranged in the throat. The plus side of this is that we can use articulate language; the downside is that food can go down the wrong way.

Humans are effectively hairless; although we have hairs on our arms and legs, they don't do much for keeping us warm. This is usually explained as part of early Man's nomadic lifestyle as part of a cooling system. There is a controversial hypothosis that early humans spent much of their time in water (the aquatic ape theory); this would explain the loss of hair and holding breath. There's no supporting fossil evidence for the theory.

The "traditional" difference - tool use - doesn't really hold much water nowadays as chimpanzees do that. There also evidence that chimpanzees have a "spiritual" side; there is some evidence that they admire beautiful sunsets, perform rain dances and have romantic love. However - such theories are far from being widely accepted, but it is interesting. Chimpanzees also have a rudementary language, so what we might think of as "big" differences are more a difference of scale.

Answer 4

That's a similar question to 'What makes dogs different to poodles?' Humans are apes. What sets us apart from other apes, however? Most noticeably, we are the only bipedal primate - that is, we walk on two legs. Other primates do occasionally walk on their hind legs, but we are the only species for whom it is the default mode of locomotion. Also, our cognitive abilities are more developed. Whilst we are certainly not the only species who make tools (chimps do it, crows do it, dolphins do it...), it is self-evident that ours are the most sophisticated. Computers, spacecraft, firearms, no other species makes anything remotely as complex as these. We are sometimes referred to as 'the hairless ape'. We retained some hair, however. Our eyebrows are believed to help us to understand others' emotions, as they make facial expressions easier to comprehend. We have shorter arms in comparison with our bodies, and with less muscle. We no longer need them to climb trees, for example. Our thumbs are unique in that we can pinch them and our forefinger together. It is this that has allowed us to make all our tools. For all our differences, however, it is worth baring in mind that humans and chimpanzees have more genetic information in common than chimpanzees and gorillas or orang utans do. They are our closest relative, and we theirs.

Answer 5

one way humans are different from primates is, humans hands are jointed differently jointed then primates were.also humans have enough intelligence to know and understand how to make/ start a fire, and know how to use it. another thing primates and humans had/have that is different is that, humans can stand upright (erect) but primates could not... there backs were sort of bending down all the time. having differently jointed hands helps humans to be able to make and use tools. being able to make fire fire can help humans to; cook food, have warmth, have light, be protected, and talk with Friends and family members. being able to stand erect also has a large impact on human being's live too, and we are now fully developed! (we now also have larger brains.)

Answer 6

Actually Chimpanzees Are like us. They share ALMOST the same DNA. They eat Nuts Fruit, And animals! and the move like humans.

Answer 7

We are the most advanced in our kind We are supposed to possess the sixth sense, the power to speak and express our opinion, the power to think and take decisions etc.

Answer 8

monkeys have tails humans dont monkeys live on ground humans dont we humans are cleverer than monkeys so we might me difrent to monkeys but we are similer to apes

Answer 9

chimps are very similar to humans as they have a developed brain (like humans) than any other animal...so they do similar activities like human