Humans and chimpanzees, from a genetic standpoint, are first cousins.  The difference between the two from a DNA standpoint is only like 1.2 percent of genetic material; all our other DNA is exactly the same.  It’s those few simple mutations, some of which are less than 5 million years old, that separate us from the animals.  The most important variation, recently discovered by Dr. Bing Su of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and his team of researchers, is a protein in the central nervous system called type II neuropsin.

It’s amazing that that one protein is what is responsible for language and higher cognition.  Our brains are incredibly powerful tools that can adapt to just about any challenge.  Moreso than thumbs, the meat in our skulls is what makes humans the dominant animal on the planet.  If it wasn’t for that one little brain chemical, we’d all be living in caves and flinging our poo at strangers.

Tags: genetics, the human genome project, mutations, human DNA, animal DNA, the difference between humans and apes, weird science, Bing Su, Chinese Academy of Sciences, brains, neuroscience

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