Human societies are distinguished by their intricate social fabric, woven together by a profound capacity for empathy and fairness. These qualities, refined over millennia of evolution, not only bolster societal cohesion but also serve as linchpins for the perpetuation of our genetic heritage. In contrast to our primate relatives, such as chimpanzees, whose sense of fairness is often limited to situations directly impacting them, humans demonstrate a broader concern for justice that transcends personal interest.
Our Closest Cousins: Chimps
In the last 3 million years, various human species roamed the Earth. However, for reasons still unknown to us, all but Homo sapiens went extinct, leaving behind chimpanzees as the next best thing to humans.
Our closest relatives, chimpanzees, though not classified as a human species, share DNA so similar to ours that viruses like HIV/SIV, Ebola, Hepatitis B, Yellow Fever, and influenza can easily transfer between our species. Regrettably, this genetic closeness has resulted in the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research, including deliberate infection with various diseases for vaccine testing, and studies on behavior and cognition. However, there has been a significant shift away from using chimpanzees in scientific experiments due to ethical…
