Unit 5 Animal World Useful Information There may be more to our interest in animals than just the fact that we think they are cute,we like them as pets,or that we enjoy their playful behavior.In fact, biologists insist that we humans share a common ancestry with all animals,and that humans are simply one very special animal which has evolved physical and cultural behavior that makes humans unique as the dominant animal on the Earth. Humans and chimpanzees have a genetic structure in their DNA hereditary material which is more than 98%the same.This should not be misunderstood as a negative comment about humans,but as a positive comment about all the other animals with which we share our world.Even simpler animals have many of the same genetic sequences of DNA,which permit them to carry on many of the same chemical activities in their body cells as we humans do.The process of energy production in humans is nearly identical to that of tigers,whales,and birds!However,this is not a biology lesson,though we will consider some of the aspects of animal behavior which we humans find interesting. Do animals have a culture?Yes,even scholars in the social sciences now insist that animals do have cultures,each type of animal having its unique cultural characteristics. As part of their culture,we now know that some animals make and use tools, some animals can share knowledge with one another,and some animals have some sort of language with which they communicate.While these animal cultures may have their limitations,it is possible to share our cultures with one another,and this has been done for centuries.From the time that primitive man domesticated animals such as the dog,cattle,and horse we have shared cultures with these animals.Sharing common resources as well as related behavior,man is not alone in his environment. It is fun to watch animals when they play,and that is particularly true of young animals who are full of energy and starting to learn the behavior peculiar to their cultures.Pets of course are merely domesticated animals and have been reared along with humans so that they may share some of their cultural behavior for the benefit of both partners in the relationship.In Western cultures they say,"Man's best friend is his dog."Dogs are faithful companions capable of learning to obey and enjoy many of the same activities as humans(such as hunting and sharing affection). Among the things all animals have in common is the attempt to insure survival of their own species.The ways this is achieved are very complex,but now are understood better than ever before.Scientists insist that physical features such as long teeth,protective coloration,and sharp claws or poisonous fangs have evolved to aid animals to survive.Behavioral features such as fighting,courtship,sense of smell, dominance,submission,and protection and care of the young,are likewise believed to have evolved to adapt each species better to the environment. Does a better understanding of animals make humans better understand themselves?Or will it help create a harmonious relationship between humans and other animal species?Think about it.1 Unit 5 Animal World Useful Information There may be more to our interest in animals than just the fact that we think they are cute, we like them as pets, or that we enjoy their playful behavior. In fact, biologists insist that we humans share a common ancestry with all animals, and that humans are simply one very special animal which has evolved physical and cultural behavior that makes humans unique as the dominant animal on the Earth. Humans and chimpanzees have a genetic structure in their DNA hereditary material which is more than 98% the same. This should not be misunderstood as a negative comment about humans, but as a positive comment about all the other animals with which we share our world. Even simpler animals have many of the same genetic sequences of DNA, which permit them to carry on many of the same chemical activities in their body cells as we humans do. The process of energy production in humans is nearly identical to that of tigers, whales, and birds! However, this is not a biology lesson, though we will consider some of the aspects of animal behavior which we humans find interesting. Do animals have a culture? Yes, even scholars in the social sciences now insist that animals do have cultures, each type of animal having its unique cultural characteristics. As part of their culture, we now know that some animals make and use tools, some animals can share knowledge with one another, and some animals have some sort of language with which they communicate. While these animal cultures may have their limitations, it is possible to share our cultures with one another, and this has been done for centuries. From the time that primitive man domesticated animals such as the dog, cattle, and horse we have shared cultures with these animals. Sharing common resources as well as related behavior, man is not alone in his environment. It is fun to watch animals when they play, and that is particularly true of young animals who are full of energy and starting to learn the behavior peculiar to their cultures. Pets of course are merely domesticated animals and have been reared along with humans so that they may share some of their cultural behavior for the benefit of both partners in the relationship. In Western cultures they say, “Man’s best friend is his dog.” Dogs are faithful companions capable of learning to obey and enjoy many of the same activities as humans (such as hunting and sharing affection). Among the things all animals have in common is the attempt to insure survival of their own species. The ways this is achieved are very complex, but now are understood better than ever before. Scientists insist that physical features such as long teeth, protective coloration, and sharp claws or poisonous fangs have evolved to aid animals to survive. Behavioral features such as fighting, courtship, sense of smell, dominance, submission, and protection and care of the young, are likewise believed to have evolved to adapt each species better to the environment. Does a better understanding of animals make humans better understand themselves? Or will it help create a harmonious relationship between humans and other animal species? Think about it