Dominica McNair
Dr. Wielgos
06-112-M/College Writing 2
28 April 2014
Gorillas and Humans Really Are Alike
Gorillas have been studied for many
years and yet there is still controversy in whether or not humans and gorillas
are alike. By looking at a gorilla face to face you can see that there are many
similarities to humans. Some people believe that gorillas and humans share many
of the same characteristics, and even believe that there are links to apes and
humans through evolution. However, there are still some unanswered questions.
After carefully researching the similarities between gorillas and humans, I
feel they are alike because they share similar anatomy, relationships, behaviors,
and genetics. The intelligence of gorillas and their behaviors are very similar
to those of humans and you will notice throughout this paper as I compare these
two mammals that they really are more alike then you think.
Gorillas and humans are both mammals and share similarities in
their anatomy and physiology. There are claims that they have similar senses
such as smell, eyesight, and taste. Nevertheless, just by looking at the
appearance of both side-by-side one can see the similarities. Both have two hands
and contain five fingers on each hand, one of them being a thumb. Gorillas use their hands to reach, grasp, and
hold on to object in the same ways humans use their hands. There is
documentation that shows gorillas in captivity using their hands to throw
things as well as use them for tools for feeding. However new studies show that
gorillas in the wild also uses their hands and tools as necessary. Author
Thomas Breuer, Mireille Ndoundou-Hockemba, and Vicki Fishlock from the wildlife
conservation society shared an article entitled First observation of tool use in wild gorillas, which provides two
documented cases on how gorillas used
their two hands to find and make tool in the wild and use them for the
necessary skills needed for safety and survival. An adult ape named Leah
“detached the stick and, stretching forward with it in her right hand, seemed
to use it to test the water depth or substrate stability: she grasped the stick
firmly and repeatedly prodded the water in front of her with the end of the
stick” (2041). It is amazing that this
gorilla was able to find and make use of a tool and knows to use it to test the
depth of water in order to cross the swamp safely. Another example is a gorilla
named Efi, “she forcefully pushed [a leafless trunk] into the ground with both
hands and held the tool for support with her left hand over her head for 2 min
while dragging food with the other hand” (2042). Efi later uses the trunk to
make a bridge over the swampy ground in order to get across. It is very
interesting that she was able to recognize the danger ahead and come up with a
safe solution. The author and zoologist Elizabeth Lonsdorf, shared the results
of her research in The role of behavioral
research in the conservation of chimpanzees and gorillas. She stated, “Both
gorillas and chimpanzees have the cognitive capacity to perform complex tasks
such as making and using tools and navigating intricate social environments”
(71). This explains why both gorillas
were able to find and use tools in the wild and use them for their survival in
the swap like environment. Another way gorillas use their hands is during
playtime. The authors Tanner and Byrne shared in their article Concealing facial evidence of mood:
Perspective-taking in a captive gorilla
that a female gorilla was observed using her hands to hide her face and
trigger another gorilla to play, they coined this term as “playface” According
to the authors “this behavior implies that the gorilla is aware of her
spontaneous facial expressions and the consequences they entail” Repeatedly the
one gorilla would cover her face as though to play peek-a-boo with the other.
This playful routine indicator the fun would soon begin. Following the play
face was tumbling around, wrestling and mock biting that both gorillas engaged
in. This is similar to that of children like using their hands and face to play
or inhibit expressions. Besides having
similarities in hands they also have similar facial characteristics. The overall
structure and anatomy of the eye is very similar in humans and gorillas. Although
there are some differences in lens thickness, both gorilla and human eyes
contained three muscle layers, fibers that attach the lens, and an optic nerve.
Fanie Knapp, James McCulley, and Nick Hogan, all professors and ophthalmologist
at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and author and
zoologist Thomas Alarado, share their findings in the study Comparative ocular anatomy of the western
lowland gorilla, which includes a comparison of the lowland gorilla, the
mountain gorilla and the human eye. “The nerve fiber layer, ganglian cell
layer, inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer, and
the photoreceptors layer of both gorillas were similar the those of the human
eye” (360). The study was important because it was the only microscopic study
done on a gorilla’s eyes and led to a better understanding on how human and
gorilla eyes are so similar. Although this is only two examples, you can
clearly see how different parts of anatomy and physiology of gorillas compares
to humans.
The actions between gorillas and humans are almost identical. The relationship between a mother and newborn
gorilla are exceedingly similar to those of a human mother and infant. Both
human and gorilla moms care for their babies in similar ways. A baby gorilla
stays in complete body contact with their mother for the first 6 months of life
because they depend on her for food, love, and security. Gorillas spend this
time holding, breastfeeding, and nurturing their newborns, just like human
mothers due for their infants. Also the way they hold and support the newborn
monkeys head is just like humans. Authors Masayuki Nakamichi, April Silldorff, Crystal
Bringham and Peggy Sexton write about the interactions within the gorilla’s
family in the article, Baby-transfer and
other interactions between its mother and grandmother in a captive social group
of lowland gorilla. The study showed how an experienced gorilla had to show
a new gorilla mom how to appropriately care for her baby. “a young adult female
put her 1 day old baby on the ground in front of her mother in a captive social
group of lowland gorillas, the mother lifted the baby and handed it to her adult
daughter, which suggests that the experienced mother encouraged her
inexperienced daughter by rectifying inappropriate maternal behaviors toward
the baby” (73). Whether or not the mother was not sure how to care for her
infant or just needed a break, it shows how mothers teach their children how to
care for the newborns and corrects their behaviors if needed. New moms often do
not have the answers on how to care for their newborns and look to their mother
or grandmothers for advice when caring for their infants. This shows relationships
with mothers, their children, and the behavior similarities when caring for
newborns whether it be a gorilla or a human. They share similar family bonds as
humans and dynamic roles within the family or group. Often the male gorilla is
in charge; he makes the decisions, settles the conflicts and is responsible for
the safety and well-being for the group. Whereas the female is the nurture and
her primary focus is caring and protecting her infant. These characteristics
are comparable to humans; the husband or dad is the head of the household, who
works to care and support his family, and serves to protect his family. In
addition, a mother takes care of her house and her children.
Some behaviors that are similar in humans and gorillas include
face and eye scanning. Both have a very detailed way of using facial
communications. The face and eyes of an individual can tell a lot about the
identity, age, sex, emotion and direction of their attention. There are
different types of facial communication such a prolonged stare that might
indicate a threat or look of avoidance that could signify submission. Eye
contact can also be useful in play as well. Authors and professors Fumihiro
Kano, Jospeh Call,and Masaki Tomonaga at the primate research institute, share their results in the article Face and eye scanning in gorillas,
orangutans, and humans: Unique eye-viewing patters in humans among hominids,
“The general conclusion is that all species are strikingly similar in patterns
of face and eye scanning” (395). In the study both gorillas and humans viewed
faces for a longer period than viewing bodies or backgrounds in pictures shown.
Both payed particular attention to the eyes in the pictures. As discussed
before there is a lot to be said about a person eyes.
Among behavioral similarities, gorillas also share some genetic
similarities throughout their genome sequence. Both are part of the superfamily
Hominoidea and are important in the study of human evolution. Many researchers
today argue that the closest relation to humans is gorillas. In the past,
researchers believed chimpanzees where among human’s closest living relatives,
but new research today shows that is not true in all cases. In 2012, author and
professor Richard Gibbs and associate professor Jeffery Rogers, in their study Gorilla gorilla gorilla, states that
“the gorilla genome revels that genetic similarities among humans, and the apes
are more complex than expected, and allows a fresh assessment of the
evolutionary mechanisms that led to the primate species today” (164). They
explain the importance of looking at the relationships between the different
species to help understand evolution and even though past research states chimpanzees
are closer related to humans, they found a percentage of the gorilla’s genomes
that contradict that statement. What they found was “for 70% of the genomes of
these three species, the chimp species are more similar to the corresponding
sequences in humans than to those in the gorilla, as expected. But the remaining
30% of the genome gorillas sequences share closer similarity with either human
or chimpanzee sequences than these two shared with each other” (164). This was
new information that brought up many questions. One reason offered by authors
is the incomplete lineage in the theory of evolution. The DNA sequencing
between the species dates back millions of years ago and many mutations have
taken place over time. The information found in this study is important in
understand the evolutionary relationships that exist between gorillas and
humans and will hopefully start to bring the connection between the two closer.
Another example of how genetics of gorillas and humans are similar is that they
share similar numbers in accelerated genes. Authors Aylwyn Scccally, Julien
Dutheil, LeDeana Hiller, Gregory Jordan, Ian Goodhead, et al. participated
in a research study Insights into hominid evolution from the gorilla genome sequence, which
was published by a group from the nature publishing group in the United Kingdom.
This study looked at the similarities and difference of the genome sequences of
gorillas, chimpanzees and humans. They shared “gorilla and human both yield
brain associated terms enriched for accelerated genes, but chimpanzees did not”
(173). For example, they share a number of similarities such as eyes, hair
follicles, and brain development. They discuss how these genes run parallel but
are similar. They later state “it is also interesting to note that ear
morphology is one of the few external traits in which humans are more similar
to gorillas than chimpanzees” (173). This shows how different genes and
characteristics that are similar between humans and gorillas including sensory
perception of sound.
Learned behaviors of gorillas have been
studied over the years and there many comparisons to human learned behaviors. The author and
professor Robert W. Mitchell in his book Pretending
and imagination in animals and children shares how children and apes have
rapid script development. “For apes and young children, sometimes one
experience is enough to recreate it, indicating rapid script development” (10).
He
explains how both apes and young children often learn after a single experience
and are able to recreate it again without help from others. This shows how
humans and gorillas are fast learners. He also discusses how pretending and
role-playing are similar in gorillas and children. As they
are seen using their imagination and role-playing with different toys such as
dolls, cars, and toy alligators. “For example, both children and the gorilla Koko enjoy
pretending with alligator toys, where the
alligator acts as a nasty character; yet these pretenders likely have little or
no experience with alligators” (16).They both must have learned or heard about alligators
through language and known they were unpleasant and were able to imagine and reenact
the encounter in role-playing. Another example of learned behavior that has been proven is that gorillas if
given the right environment and training are able to understand both sign
language and articulate speech. A gorilla named KoKo lived at a Gorilla
Foundation in California with another gorilla named Michael who used sign
language was able to pick up sign language in just a few months. The authors and
professors Sue Tylor Parker, Robert Mitchell, and H. Lyn Miles, share their
studies of the these magnificent creatures in the book The mentalities of gorillas and orangutans: Comparative perspectives.
“Koko
could comprehend both signed and spoken communications, and made two-and
three-sign combinations of signs after just a few months” (201 ). It is amazing how intelligent these gorillas are and
how they are able to understand and complete complex tasks and learn sign
language. “Koko’s
vocabulary has been variously reported, but her core-acquired vocabulary
approximates 250 signs” (201). That is amazing! It goes to show you that
gorillas are more like humans then you think, they are able to learn and retain
sign language and communicate with humans in a way that no one thought before.
Another example in this book is a gorilla named Michael. He was shown a picture
by his trainer Barbara and was asked what it was. His response was “cat eat,”
his trainer responded by asking what did you say about cats? What do cats eat?
Michael responded bird (201). The fact that they are able to sign and
understand the meaning of the words shows that they can engage in complex
tasks. This is important when thinking about how their mind works and trying to
understand how their ability to learn is like humans.
Because of the many research studies,
humans and gorillas can be seen in similar ways. Not only are there visual
characteristics similar but studies have shown appropriate evidence to support
the relations between humans and gorillas by using genetics and the history of
evolution. Although there are a few differences between the two, the
similarities are overwhelming. The intelligence and learned behaviors that are
seen thought a gorilla’s life span are also seen in human development. The
relationships and connection that gorillas experience with one another and the
use of communication is very similar to humans as well. Their ability to learn
and use sign language appropriately shows their intelligence and ability to
process and retain information. It can
be seen throughout this paper that gorillas and humans are alike in their anatomy,
relationships, behaviors, as well as their genetics. Ultimately gorillas and humans
are alike, who is to say we did not evolve from them!
Work Cited
Gibbs, Richard A., and Jeffery
Rogers. “Gorilla gorilla gorilla.” Nature
483.7388 (2012): 164-165. ProQuest.
Web. 6 April 2013.
Kano, Fumihiro, Joseph Call, and
Tomonaga Masaki. “Face and eye scanning in gorillas, orangutans, and humans:
Unique eye-viewing patterns in humans among hominids.” Journal of Comparative Psychology 126.4 (2012): 388-398. EBSCO. Web. 6 April 2014.
Knapp, Stephanie, James McCulley,
Thomas Alvarado, and Nick Hogan. “Comparative ocular anatomy of the western
lowland gorilla” Veterinary Ophthalmology
10.6 (2007): 357-362. EBSCO. Web.
6 April 2013.
Lonsdorf, Elizabeth. “The role
of behavioral research in the conservation of chimpanzees and gorillas.” Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science.
10.1 (2007): 71-78. Web. 6 April 2014.
Mitchell, Robert. “Historical
development and comparative overviews.” Pretending
and imagining in animals and children. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University
Press. 2002 eBook.
Nakamichi, Masayuki, April
Silldorff, Crystal Bringham, and Peggy Sexton. “Baby-transfer and other
interactions between its mother and grandmother in a captive social group of
lowland gorillas.” Primates 45
(2004): 73-77. EBSCO. Web. 6 April
2013.
Parker, Sue Taylor, Robert W.
Mitchell, and H. Lyn Miles.“Comparative evolutionary and developmental
perspectives on gorillas and orangutans.” The
mentalities of gorillas and orangutans: comparative perspectives.
Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. 1999. eBook.
Scally, Aylwyn, et al.
“Insights into hominid evolution from the gorilla genome sequence.” Nature 483.7388 (2012): 169-75. ProQuest. Web. 6 April 2013.
Tanner, Joanne, and Byrne,
Richard. “Concealing facial evidence of mood: Perspective-taking in a captive
gorilla?” Primates 34.4 (1993):
451-457. Web. 28 April 2014.
Research topic one.
A lot of things make me excited , especially monkeys. I am Inlove with monkeys and have been all my life. I want to own a monkey , maybe a squirrel monkey Before I have kids. They are pretty expensive, but I think it's beyond worth it. They are about 7000-12000$. They are like little baby toddlers. They eat, take baths and play. They even laugh, throw tantrums and cuddle, just like a real person. They are so smart, and so alike us. Our genes are so close too. I think have one of these as a pet would be an unbelievable experience. I went to the zoo just in December, and I went to the monkey exhibit, and I saw a gorilla with her newborn baby. It was the cutest sight to see ever. She was holding her baby like a human would, and was rocking her to sleep.she also kept patting her butt, which I found really funny. It's crazy to know they do so much stuff alike us. I know people say humans evolved from gorillas, and I believe it. Learning more about gorillas would be an awesome sort of knowledge to take In for me.
I think monkey lovers care like me, but especially the people like Jane Goodall, who go out and commit there life to training and studying gorillas in the wild. Some type of organization would be as caring too. A organization that is for gorillas and monkeys. Zoo keepers, also care especially the ones who specifically work with the monkeys and gorillas.
A Design Plan For a Research Paper
In my statement of purpose, I say that I want my audience to realize how alike gorillas and humans are. I want my audience to take in the information and be more educated in similarities between humans and gorillas. This means that I am focusing less in the question ," how amazing are gorillas"? And more on the question," how close in relations are gorillas to humans"? Given all that I think my overall strategies need to be:
• to shift the discussion away from strictly discussing the relations between gorillas and humans. Not just about gorillas in general.
•I need to make it clear, that I am focusing on gorillas actions that relate to humans. I have to support many examples and research that helps the understanding of my argument.
MY ETHOS:
I need to avoid lecturing my readers ( especially If I am trying to have them see that gorillas are so alike humans). I need to show the readers that we are in this together, exploring and looking for evidence that shows the relations between gorillas and humans. I need to be excited in a way that people are excited when they are starting to read more about my paper. I need to ask a lot of questions and keep things interesting. Not boor the reader. I need to make sure my paper is well set out, not like I wrote it last minute and makes no sense.
MY LOGOS: I need to make clear relations between gorillas and humans. I know how people feel about my topic is at stake when they are reading. I need lots of information on the correlation between humans and gorillas. I need an argument that shows the importance of how alike gorillas are to humans. I need to make my argument sound important to make worth reading.
MY PATHOS:
From just telling people what my topic, many have no idea as to how alike gorillas are to humans. When I tell them The DNA difference, they all seem shocked. I feel some people don't see how cool and interesting it is to read and learn about how close in DNA we are to gorillas. I plan on touching in heart warming relations, such as feelings or relationships that make the reader more interested in my paper. I need to inspire my readers by what hey can achieve if they really think about my argument. I need to make my readers feel sucked into my paper, making them interested, even if there not a huge gorilla fan.
CHOICE OF MEDIUM: a wonderful 10 page paper
IDEAS ABOUT ARRANGEMENT:
I think I have my thesis statement, but I'm not sure, I may need guidance with coming up with a better one if this one does not suit my essay,"With the research that has been done, we have been able to come at mind that gorillas are more alike humans than we think. Learning more upon gorillas not only is interesting but also we learn more about the human nature. " I hope the audience will accept that we as humans should know more about the science behind things. Hopefully most would agree with that.
HOW I WILL PRODUCE MY WRITING:
I haven't done a lot of research yet, I need to set aside a lot of time to research and do my research paper. I need to sit down and type away. 10 pages is going to take a lot of time. I do think I have a pretty good idea of how I'm going to start.
TESTING:
I know we are going to have to most likely proof read and share rough drafts with our class members, and that well get feed back from them and my professor. So that will be all I need to test. My mom is also very helpful when it comes to my school work. Hopefully she can proof read my paper too, giving me an extra set of eyes for any corrections needed.
A lot of things make me excited , especially monkeys. I am Inlove with monkeys and have been all my life. I want to own a monkey , maybe a squirrel monkey Before I have kids. They are pretty expensive, but I think it's beyond worth it. They are about 7000-12000$. They are like little baby toddlers. They eat, take baths and play. They even laugh, throw tantrums and cuddle, just like a real person. They are so smart, and so alike us. Our genes are so close too. I think have one of these as a pet would be an unbelievable experience. I went to the zoo just in December, and I went to the monkey exhibit, and I saw a gorilla with her newborn baby. It was the cutest sight to see ever. She was holding her baby like a human would, and was rocking her to sleep.she also kept patting her butt, which I found really funny. It's crazy to know they do so much stuff alike us. I know people say humans evolved from gorillas, and I believe it. Learning more about gorillas would be an awesome sort of knowledge to take In for me.
I think monkey lovers care like me, but especially the people like Jane Goodall, who go out and commit there life to training and studying gorillas in the wild. Some type of organization would be as caring too. A organization that is for gorillas and monkeys. Zoo keepers, also care especially the ones who specifically work with the monkeys and gorillas.
A Design Plan For a Research Paper
In my statement of purpose, I say that I want my audience to realize how alike gorillas and humans are. I want my audience to take in the information and be more educated in similarities between humans and gorillas. This means that I am focusing less in the question ," how amazing are gorillas"? And more on the question," how close in relations are gorillas to humans"? Given all that I think my overall strategies need to be:
• to shift the discussion away from strictly discussing the relations between gorillas and humans. Not just about gorillas in general.
•I need to make it clear, that I am focusing on gorillas actions that relate to humans. I have to support many examples and research that helps the understanding of my argument.
MY ETHOS:
I need to avoid lecturing my readers ( especially If I am trying to have them see that gorillas are so alike humans). I need to show the readers that we are in this together, exploring and looking for evidence that shows the relations between gorillas and humans. I need to be excited in a way that people are excited when they are starting to read more about my paper. I need to ask a lot of questions and keep things interesting. Not boor the reader. I need to make sure my paper is well set out, not like I wrote it last minute and makes no sense.
MY LOGOS: I need to make clear relations between gorillas and humans. I know how people feel about my topic is at stake when they are reading. I need lots of information on the correlation between humans and gorillas. I need an argument that shows the importance of how alike gorillas are to humans. I need to make my argument sound important to make worth reading.
MY PATHOS:
From just telling people what my topic, many have no idea as to how alike gorillas are to humans. When I tell them The DNA difference, they all seem shocked. I feel some people don't see how cool and interesting it is to read and learn about how close in DNA we are to gorillas. I plan on touching in heart warming relations, such as feelings or relationships that make the reader more interested in my paper. I need to inspire my readers by what hey can achieve if they really think about my argument. I need to make my readers feel sucked into my paper, making them interested, even if there not a huge gorilla fan.
CHOICE OF MEDIUM: a wonderful 10 page paper
IDEAS ABOUT ARRANGEMENT:
I think I have my thesis statement, but I'm not sure, I may need guidance with coming up with a better one if this one does not suit my essay,"With the research that has been done, we have been able to come at mind that gorillas are more alike humans than we think. Learning more upon gorillas not only is interesting but also we learn more about the human nature. " I hope the audience will accept that we as humans should know more about the science behind things. Hopefully most would agree with that.
HOW I WILL PRODUCE MY WRITING:
I haven't done a lot of research yet, I need to set aside a lot of time to research and do my research paper. I need to sit down and type away. 10 pages is going to take a lot of time. I do think I have a pretty good idea of how I'm going to start.
TESTING:
I know we are going to have to most likely proof read and share rough drafts with our class members, and that well get feed back from them and my professor. So that will be all I need to test. My mom is also very helpful when it comes to my school work. Hopefully she can proof read my paper too, giving me an extra set of eyes for any corrections needed.
Reflection on project:
The research paper wasn't hard. it was a lot of work and a lot of dedicated time. Writing the research paper took many hours considering the fact that it was 8-10 pages long. I think you well prepared us for the project, and I think I did fairly well on the project. I choose my topic because I love gorillas. I am happy with my choice because although I know a lot about gorillas, I still learned some new information. The similarities with genetics most interest me. I think that this project did help conduct a lot of information for my research paper. I collected more information than I needed, because I would rather have too much than not enough information for my project. It was hard to fine the information for this project. Finding scholarly articles was challenging. This project taught me that research papers are a lot of work and take a lot of time.
No comments:
Post a Comment