...case reveals why we communicate. Human language requires one to learn since it is because it is so complex. Language is in several ways is the quintessential expression of culture. It is learned, transmitted and at the same time shared. Human language contain the trait of being discrete and open. They relay totally new ideas and new things. In contrast other primates communicate their present intentions and emotional mod. All humans have the capacity for language. The brains of children are wired so that they start learning to speak any language. Both human beings and animals use systems of communication, what is unique in human beings is the use of open vocal systems and complex symbols. Communication in human beings and animals entails use of signals are gestures that possess meaning to those using it. For instance, human communication has symbols and signals. Symbols have specific meaning to various groups of individuals. Many primates spend their time mostly communicating to each other. They do so with sounds, smells visual messages, and even touching. Non-human primates mainly use body language .Human communication basically entails use of oral sounds. Our sound or what we speak is far much different from the hoots,...
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...bellwether differences between apes and humans, like toolmaking, fall away. Chimpanzees use leaves as seats, as it turns out; they fashion a kind of footwear to protect themselves from thorns; they ''fish'' for termites with twigs and reeds they strip and cut for the occasion. But surely culture itself remains impregnable, a fortress where the superiority of human beings, steeped in teaching, learning, language, art and cuisine, still resides. Let Bonzo try to get a table at Elaine's. Now along comes one of the world's most distinguished primatologists, intent on breaching this last bastion of anthropocentrism. A professor of primate behavior at Emory University and the director of the Living Links Center, de Waal draws on more than 30 years of his own research among captive monkeys, bonobos and other chimpanzees, as well as on studies of wild primates by colleagues around the world, to poke ''a maximum number of holes in the nature/culture divide.'' Culture -- behavior learned from others -- was long vaunted as inimitably human. But de Waal points out how tired this presumption is. Monkeys teach their siblings how to wash sweet potatoes in the ocean; chimpanzee mothers show their young how to use stones to crack nuts; apes learn to medicate themselves with herbs. In 1999, an international survey of wild chimpanzees published in Nature described 39 distinct behavior patterns. In other words, separate communities of chimpanzees, even in the same environment, develop different...
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...wild. These mistreated animals can be extremely dangerous to human health, the safety of the public, and the animals themselves. Many exotic animal attacks have been front page news; most recently, the release and killing of forty-nine exotic animals in Zanesville, Ohio, was said to be the worst exotic animal incident in United States history. This dangerous incident and those like it need to be thoroughly investigated, and legislation must be improved to avoid future incidents. Stricter laws will ensure exotic animals are being cared for humanely and the public is protected. Common exotic animals that are being purchased for private ownership or entertainment purposes are large game cats, bears, wolves, zebras, reptiles, birds, and nonhuman primates. The genetic anomalies of zedonks, crossbreeding zebras with donkeys, are even being advertised for sale (Green). All of these exotic animals may seem cute and cuddly in zoos and other exhibits, but they are extremely dangerous if not cared for appropriately. The care of exotic animals can be expensive, and many people will purchase these animals unaware of the costs that are required to maintain the animal’s health and environment. Many investigations into exotic animal attacks have revealed that these animals are not being cared for in humane ways. They...
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...| “A man will sometimes beat his wife if he becomes jealous or suspects her of infidelity, but when this happens, onlookers run to tell her female kin.” Pg. 81 | I’ve been in a situation like this before, my best-friend saved because my kin didn’t want to get in the middle of it as they would say. | “In some societies a woman’s kin, including her father and brothers, consistently support her against an abusive husband, while in others they rarely help her.” Why? Pg. 81 | A father and a brother should always be there to help a woman is abusive situations. I understand some don’t want to get involved but it’s your family we’re talking about. Most fathers and brothers I know are very protective of women in their family. | “Like nonhuman primate females, many women form bonds with unrelated males who may protect them from other males.” Pg. 81 | Me personally I have plenty of male friends that I know will protect me from an abusive male. They treat me as if I’m their blood sister...
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...on this subject some of our society now accepts the concept and studies it. To think that living species does not change and adapt over time is nonsense. With the study of evolution humankind can learn from its past and better prepare for the future by studying how humankind has developed over the past. Evolution is defined in biology as the idea that all species can change over time and have a common ancestry (Parker, 2008). A physical anthropologist could study primatology in order to study evolution for humankind. Primatology is the study in physical anthropology that began with morphological comparisons of primates to reconstruct the evolution of humans (Rodman, 1999). Studying primatology can help the study of evolution because it is a very good example of basic evolution and primates and human beings have a lot of similar traits and also the primate is the closest living example that is like a human genetically. This source was chosen because it helps break down the meaning and understanding of primatology and provides the basics and in depth terms to help any reader understand primatology. Another field in anthropology that studies evolution is called archaeology anthropology. The archaeologist in this subfield of anthropology can study evolution is by searching for understanding fossils and tools. By studying fossils the archaeologist can look at certain aspects of the specimen and compare it to specimens that are still living...
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...WHEN GUESTS ARRIVE AT THE YERKES Regional Primate Research Center in Georgia, where I work, they usually pay a visit to the chimpanzees. And often, when she sees them approaching the compound, an adult female chimpanzee named Georgia will hurry to the spigot to collect a mouthful of water. She'll then casually mingle with the rest of the colony behind the mesh fence, and not even the sharpest observer will notice anything unusual. If necessary, Georgia will wait minutes, with her lips closed, until the visitors come near. Then there will be shrieks, laughs, jumps-and sometimes falls-when she suddenly sprays them. I have known quite a few apes that are good at surprising people, naive and otherwise. Heini Hediger, the great Swiss zoo biologist, recounts how he-being prepared to meet the challenge and paying attention to the ape's every move-got drenched by an experienced chimpanzee. I once found myself in a similar situation with Georgia; she had taken a drink from the spigot and was sneaking up to me. I looked her straight in the eye and pointed my finger at her, warning in Dutch, "I have seen you!" She immediately stepped back, let some of the water dribble from her mouth, and swallowed the rest. I certainly do not wish to claim that she understands Dutch, but she must have sensed that I knew what she was up to, and that I was not going to be an easy target. Now, no doubt even a casual reader will have noticed that in describing Georgia's actions, I've implied human qualities...
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...of head transplant in mammals happened as early as 1908, American physiologist and pharmacologist Charles C. Guthrie grafted the head of a small mixed-breed dog onto the neck of a larger one whose own head remained intact. Similarly, in the 1950s Russian scientist Vladimir P. Demikhov transplanted the upper body of a mixed breed puppy including the forelimbs to the neck of a much larger dog by connecting the pup to the other dog's neck blood vessels. At least one of Demikhov's experiments reportedly survived as long as 29 days after the surgery. Robert J. White was a professor of neurosurgery at Case Western Reserve University he led in 1970 a neurosurgeon team in the successfully transplant of a head from one nonhuman primate to another which body had already had its own head removed. According to doctor white when the monkey awakened from anesthesia, it regained full consciousness and complete cranial nerve function, as measured by its wakefulness, aggressiveness, and ability to eat and to follow people moving around the room with its eyes. Such monkeys lived for as long as eight days. Doctor white suggested that with the significant improvements in surgical techniques available today and improve postoperative management, it is now possible to consider adapting the head transplant technique to humans. Transplanting the...
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...arrived healthy, began exhibiting symptoms on September 24 but only on September 30 the positive diagnosis was presented. People are worried about how to avoid the Ebola virus, once it's a lethal disease and there is no cure or vaccine. Sunny Chi, an international student in the U.S., said he felt apprehensive about a possible outbreak and about how protect himself from a contamination. According CDC, some few practices are enough to keep yourself safe: • Wash hands frequently or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. • Avoid contact with blood and body fluids of any person, particularly someone who is sick. • Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids. • Do not touch bats and nonhuman primates or their blood and fluids and do not touch or eat raw meat prepared from these animals. • Avoid hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated. The U.S. Embassy or consulate is often able to provide advice on medical facilities. • Seek medical care immediately if you develop fever (temperature of 101.5°F/ 38.6°C) and any of the other following symptoms: headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bruising or bleeding. CDC highly advise to check for possible Ebola outbreaks before travelling to Africa, specially to countries with the Travel Alert Level 3, which means a higher risk of contamination to travelers. CDC also recommends to avoid nonessential travel to Africa particularly to Guinea, Liberia...
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...Extra Credit Critical Thinking Questions Chapter 8 #1: Do you thinking that knowing about aggression between groups of chimpanzees is useful in understanding conflicts between human societies? Why or why not? Answer: For many primate species, especially those whos ranges are small, contact with one or more other groups of conspecifics is a daily occurrence; and the nature of these encounters can vary from one species to another. Primate groups are associated with a home range, where they remain permanently. Within the home range is called a portion called the core area. This area contains the highest concentration of predictable resources, and it is where the group is most likely to be found. Although portions of the home range may overlap with that of one or more other groups, core areas of adjacent groups do not overlap. The core area can also be said to be a group’s territory, and it is the portion of the home range defended against intrusion. In some species, however, other areas of the home range may also be offended. Not all primates are territorial. In general, territoriality is associated with species whose ranges are sufficiently small to permit patrolling and protection. But male chimpanzees are highly intolerant of unfamiliar chimpanzees, especially other males, and fiercely defend their territories and resources. Therefore, chimpanzee intergroup interactions almost always include aggressive displays, chasing, and sometimes fighting. In recent years, a good...
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...Meaning & Nature of Language Introduction Language is the heart of our world. We create our concept of the world by thinking and naming things. Using words helps us communicate effectively in different situations. Without language, we would not be able to communicate at all. Verbal communication is one of life's naturally occurring communication systems. Communication is essential for human beings. Language is the primary way in which adults pass ways of thinking and conversing on to their children. Language is an accumulation of knowledge because we learned everything by somebody through language. Society would have to recreate itself every generation if it could not pass its knowledge on through language. Language is one of the most powerful tools in human communication. Words are meant to establish and maintain friendly contact. Through words, people shape their identities. People can express their feelings, attitudes, and experiences to each other through words. By speaking, information can be give to others about oneself and the world around him/her. In Christine Leong's essay Being A Chink, she describes the power of language. She said, "It gives us identity, personality, social status, and it also creates communities, defining both insiders and outsiders. Language has the ability to heal or to harm, to praise or belittle, to promote peace or even to glorify hate." I believe this is what language is all about. Language has two purposes. Depending...
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...Speech 101 Speech 4 April 6, 2011 Why Fathers should have Equal Rights? Due to problems arising out of bitter divorces, custody, and support battles fathers are ostracize out of their children’s life. Fathers are often looked at as the bad person when things go wrong and being the blame. Fathers are just as responsible for the child being born as the mother. Over the years fathers continue to fight for equal rights, mothers are looked at as the victims and often make false statements about the fathers to suit their own selfish needs. Accusations of sexual and child abuse by mothers of the noncustodial fathers are often found to be untrue. However women being resentful of their husbands because of infidelity making it impossible for them to think reasonable about what is best for the child, looking to please their needs. Not wanting the child around another woman, due to the emotional hurt she has suffer at the hands of the father. In turn mother turning the child against the father by putting him down in front of the child, saying bad things, trying to discourage the child from wanting to have a relationship their father, the angry spouse using the child as pawn through custody issues. Nevertheless custody being the dividing point between the parents. The courts being bias acting as the mother is the main caregiver, and sole provider of the child. The process is excessive inventionist of the courts in the life’s of the fathers they are examine with a fine tooth comb...
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...Interestingly, there is a group of living plants - the whisk ferns - which resembles Rhynia. Psilotum nudum which grows in moist, shady habitats in the Caribbean is such a plant. At one time, Psilotum was thought to be a surviving relative of Rhynia. It is, however, more generally thought to be a Fern Ally, related to the Ferns, with loss of features such as leaves and roots. Event 13 “IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORDATE” FINDING THE ANCESTOR OF VERTEBRATES (AND OURSELVES) 530 million years ago The Cambrian explosion created all the major phyla of animals that we have today. This includes the phyla Chordata (chordates). Primitive forms are creatures with evidence of a notochord, a structural rod of cartilage and neural tissue running down the long axis of the body. This notochord was the early precursor to the spine in vertebrates (animals with a true backbone, like fish), and modern examples of simple chordates include sea squirts and lancelets. Two Cambrian fossil localities are of key importance here: Chengjiang in Yunnan Province, southern China, and the Burgess Shales in the British Columbia Rockies of Canada. Both of these localities have produced fossils classified as chordates. The Chinese forms include the forms Myllokunmingia and Haikouichthys (it has even been suggested these could be primitive vertebrate jawless fish). The Canadian form (somewhat later in the Cambrian period) is Pikaia, which especially resembles the modern lancelet. Event 15 “GET OUT OF THE...
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...certain people and various aspects of culture. EVOLUTION Charles Darwin – proposed the mechanism of natural selection to account for the evolution of species. Basic Principles of the Natural Selection 1. Every species is composed of a variety of individuals, some which are better adapted to their environment than the others. 2. Offspring inherits traits from their parents at least to some degree. 3. Since better adapted individuals generally produce more offspring over the generations than the poorer adapted, the frequency of adoptive traits increases in subsequent generations. HUMAN EVOLUTION, Humans are primates, a general group having a boreal ancestry and characterized by grasping fingers and forward facing eyes capable of binocular vision. 2 Major Lines of Descent * Prosimeans - nocturnal lower primate: a nocturnal lower primate with large eyes and...
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...Whenever people find new fossils, especially paleoanthropologist, they get excited and want to look for more to know about the mysterious history of life on earth. Finally, in November 30, 1974, one lucky paleoanthropologist, Donald Johanson and his co-worker Tom Gray found my fossil at Hadar, Ethiopia. From now on people could know that I existed once on this earth a long time ago. I say lucky, because my body was covered by tons of volcanic ash and mud for millions of years, but Hadar’s long rain washed off the dust from my body. That kind of rain does not often happen in Hadar. I was a new species of Australopithecus afarensis and extinct hominid that lived between 3.9 and 2.9 million years ago. Donald Johanson and his co-workers were very happy and did not sleep that night. They had been playing the Beatle’s song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds over and over again at their camp. So I had been named Lucy and gave more insight to the evolution of humans and apes. The scientists are not really sure about what I was; human or ape. I had a low forehead, a bony ridge over the eyes, a flat nose, no chin, more humanlike teeth, pelvis and leg bones that resembled those of modern man. My body was smaller than my male friends and the relationship of sexual dimorphism and social group structure was like a modern ape. My father had a number of wives and lived in family groups. It was not like then gorillas; more sexually dimorphic than humans or chimpanzees. Scientists assume I lost of...
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...Meerkat The meerkat or suricate, Suricata suricatta, is a small mammal belonging to the mongoose family. Meerkats live in all parts of theKalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan". A meerkat clan often contains about 20 meerkats, but some super-families have 50 or more members. In captivity, meerkats have an average life span of 12–14 years, and about half this in the wild. ------------------------------------------------- Name "Meerkat" is a loanword from Afrikaans. The name has a Dutch origin but by misidentification. Dutch meerkat refers to the "guenon", a monkey of the Cercopithecus genus. The word "meerkat" is Dutch for "lake cat", but the suricata is not in the cat family, and neither suricatas nor guenons are attracted to lakes; the word possibly started as a Dutch adaptation of a derivative of Sanskrit markaţa मर्कट = "monkey", perhaps in Africa via an Indian sailor on board a Dutch East India Company ship. The traders of the Dutch East India Company were likely familiar with monkeys, but the Dutch settlers attached the name to the wrong animal at the Cape. The suricata is calledstokstaartje = "little stick-tail" in Dutch. According to African popular belief (mainly in the Zambian/Zimbabwean region), the meerkat is also known as the sun angel, as it protects villages from the moon devil or the werewolf which is believed to attack stray...
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