Evolutionary, we share 97.9% of our DNA's with chimpanzees. But why we are so much intelligent than them ?

Question

Evolutionary, we share 97.9% of our DNA's with chimpanzees. But why we are so much intelligent than them ?

Answer 1

That 2.1% codes for (among other things) an extremely large frontal cortex. This is the region of the brain that houses our higher cognitive functions. Its increased size in humans is what makes us more intelligent than other animals.



It's important to remember just how many genes 2.1% of a genome is.

Answer 2

There are studies out right now that show Chimps have better memories in some areas than humans.



The answer, of course, is that that 2% is very important.





But to address some of the below answerers who don't feel my example is adequate..............it demonstrates that we have better cognative ability in SOME areas, but chimps outperform humans in some cognative tasks.



There is also some evidence that chimps play "collaboration games" better than humans (picking teams to accomplish certain tasks).

Answer 3

Notice that 2.1% that is huge out of all the gnome. Changing 15 genes have a significant change in brain power. Neanderthals had 99.9% of our genome and look how they turned out. Take a genetics class you'll understand.

Answer 4

Neoteny expressed as the delay in the ossification of the

fontanel. A chimp is born with its cranium already fused,

ours stays soft allowing the continued growth of our brain.

Neoteny is the retention of juvenile characteristics through

the slowing of growth processes. We have it to thank for

our large brains, hairlessness, and long potential life spans.

Answer 5

Yugos and Lamborghinis share many of the same types of components and elements, but are VERY different, too.

Answer 6

We share about 99.5% DNA with Neanderthal as well.



I'm not sure we are a lot more intelligent...I think our opposable thumbs have allowed us to use tools to construct buildings that have provided us with shelter, protection, and hence the leisure time to use our intelligence for contemplation rather than for strictly survival.

Answer 7

That's an interesting question. I guess from an evolutionary standpoint, it could be that our branch of ancestors had to develop a more liquistic and symbol oriented brain, as that seems to be where our divergence begins. I don't know if that we share nearly 98 percent of DNA would mean we have the same intelligence. We share much of our branch with rodents, cats, dogs, other mammals. My theory is that we had to evolve to use a different and better way to communicate than our other primate cousins. Maybe standing upright helped us toward that end. Being able to communicate better perhaps helped us develop more evolutionary traits. It's all speculative on my part, though.

Answer 8

The differences are subtle. Upright walking freed the upper limb for delicate tool making and throwing. Both these tasks favored more brains which required more protein in the diet. These do not require new genes, but rather, subtle changes in the genes that sequence development.

Answer 9

I think it's a little naive of you to assume that all chimps are less intelligent than all humans.



Try to read some of the questions posted by some of our younger members, and I'm sure you'll see what I mean.



https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20080515085551AAbNviW





Chimps can learn to use sign language to communicate with people.

Answer 10

balaam, memory is only a fraction of intelligence. you didnt answer the question that well. it doesnt account for that discrepency by the way, we are not chimps.

Answer 11

You don't seem to understand quite how it works.



It's not as though each physical piece of us has its own gene, and that's how genes determine what we're like, physically.



There are "controller" genes.



And, one tiny mutation, genetically speaking, can have a huge effect on the resulting critter. So it could be just one tiny change that give us a much bigger brain.



I'd also like to point out that chimps are very intelligent, compared to most critters, and have relatively large brains for their body size.



As I understand it, a huge factor in how we compare to chimps is our neotony. Our maturation process is slowed way down.



This means we're born more immaturaly than chimps (women couldn't survive childbirth is babies brains were completely grown).



So, we're out in the world while our brains are still growing and maturing, and that maturation of the brain is slowed WAY down, which we're out and about, taking in all the info from our senses, and interacting with the world.



So, no, the similarity of our DNA to that of chimps does not mean we should have nearly the same intelligence.



That's just not how the DNA --> critter process works.



Here are some links for you:



http://evolution.berkeley.edu/



http://www.newscientist.com/channel/life/evolution



http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/human-evolution/dn9990



http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/brain

Answer 12

2.1% of the genome is a considerable difference. That 2.1% is the reason that our brains have developed the way that they have. Language is one of the key things that this evolution in ~ 2% of our genome has allowed...and that is one of the contributing factors to our evolution as human beings. Chimps aren't as far behind as you think they are either...remember, they can communicate in a limited way, and they can use tools as well.



One of the theories as to how early homo erectus developed, was that some of the apes came down from the trees, and needed to develop the physique to stand upright in order to see over the grass in the savannahs. This among other factors, including the use of more complex tools etc. necessitated a larger brain and an extended community system.



I can't give you a definitive answer, because evolutionary biology is not my specialty, but this is a scientist's perspective (I am a chemist/biochemist). I hope it sheds at least some light on the issue for you...

Answer 13

Why do ou believe that we're much more intelligent than the chimp , or any other animal , for that matter ?

Humans have tons more technical intelligence than the animals . We can build rockets to take us to the moon , make millions of objcts that animals cannot . There is no question at all of our having far more technical intelligence .

Now comes the biggie . How about basic intelligence . That's the intelligence that tells us how to survive , how to use the resources of the earth to make shelter for ourselves and our family , to feed ourselves and our family , and to leave our surroundings just as we found them , so that life will go on forever .

This basic intelligence is completely lacking in humans . We are programed to destroy . We are making life on this earth unfit for human life , and sadly , all of the innocent animals will go down the same drain as the humans .

If humans had not evolved , this earth would remain a beautiful productive green ball forever . Basic intelligence .

Answer 14

well i cant awnser that question in a field of neuroscience, nor evolutionary biology even though i just studied this in school, we didnt go in dept and my teacher wasnt even able to awnser most of my questions.

but thats besides the point.



here's what i think:



firstly, how do you know we're more intelligent than chimpanzees? i mean yes, we can solve math problems, drive cars, build technological devices, and use a fork and knife to eat, but it always depends on the defintion of intelligence.



could you survive in a jungle?

without bringing your own food, clothing, or having an already made shelter?

could you distinguish poisiounus food from eatable food?

can you follow your instincs and navigate in a tropical "labyrinth"?

see maybe we're not so much more intelligent, but we are intellegent in different fields of knowledge.



imagine a monkey thinking, "oh those humans are so dumb, destroying the world, building their own little grave out of polution, not knowing how to survive without technology, I cant belive we're related!"



haha im sorry i didnt even awnser your question

i probably didnt make alot of sense either :(

hmm maybe someone else could awnser you question better

Answer 15

We share a lot in common with chimps. Four-chambered heart, two lungs, 5 digits on the hands and feet, two eyes centered on the front of the head for stereoscopic vision, babies able to find nourishment from the mother, omnivorous apetites, two ears, knees that bend in the same way...



The 2% is what makes us different. Larger skull, bigger brain capacity, differences in memory and information processing, and, of course, shorter limbs.

Answer 16

Language is a huge deciding factor. Chimps clearly develop technology, intelligently hunt and trap prey, can operate complex mechanisms, but because they lack language they are unable to pass on the knowledge they accrue to their children, and thus every generation is forced to relearn the same things over and over again.

Answer 17

This is a situation I encountered in my neuroscience course at my university:

A student asked the professor:

"Sir, what is thought?"

The professor answered:

"I was hopping you never asked me that question. Science doesn't have an answer for that. We just don't find any material evidence for thought."

So, you see, science doesn't know what thought is, what conscience is, so to ask for genetic evidence for intelligence is a little too much for scientists. We know that the brain of great apes is very similar to our brain. So the only explanation I can offer you is that thought, conscience is not the product of physical matter. It has to be a spiritual force behind it.

Answer 18

Because of the first 9 letters of your question: EVOLUTION.



We evolved from being chimpanzees, and so our intelligence evolved too. When we were cavemen, we were little more intelligent than animals, we were equals to them in nature, but then we got smart.

Answer 19

That some 2.1% must have allowed our skulls to get bigger, which then allowed our brain to.



EDIT TO THE "WHY" NONCE: We have not stopped evolving, you just don't see evolution take place over short time frames.

Answer 20

We share 98 % of blood with chimpanzees because we have the same Creator not because we are the same creation ... we are so much intelligent than them because we were made in the image of God



" And God said , Let us make man in our image , after our likeness : and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea , and over the fowl of the air , and over the cattle , and over all the earth , and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth . So God created man in his own image , in the image of God created he him ; male and female created he them "



Genesis 1 : 26 - 27



1 - http://www.gotquestions.org/search.php?zoom_sort=0&zoom_query=in+the+image+of+God

2 - http://www.lifedesign.ca/

3 - http://christiananswers.net/home.html

4 - http://www.alittleleaven.com/



Animals only have bodies and souls ... though God created us from the dust of the ground , he breathed into us the breath of life ... we are spirit



To understand the three parts of Man http://www.tripartiteman.org/

To understand the nature of God ( it's three person yet one essence , one God ... not three essences yet one God or three gods ) http://www.snapshotsofgod.com/trinity.htm



Note - We are not God ... we were created in the image of God ... we are the creation ( not the Creator )

Answer 21

Get scientists to explain how a bumblebee can fly. I'd like an answer to that.

The fact of the matter is God made us. We didn't evolve from anything. That's why we are more intelligent than chimps. Some of us anyway.

Answer 22

The only difference between our brain and theirs is that we are capable of abstract thought.



I suppose.

Answer 23

DNA was created by God

humans were created in God's image

monkeys are definitaly the closest looking thing to us

but God only gave humans his knowledge.

Answer 24

Cos we're not as hairy as they are.

Answer 25

evolution is false...God gave us real intelligence= IQ

Answer 26

And why are they still here?



And why did we stop evolving?



And why and why and why...