THIS past Tuesday, July 11, was World Population Day and I thought this a good time to discuss human DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
That great ethologist and pioneer in the study of the great apes, Dr Jane Goodall, said that man’s closest living relative in the animal world was the chimpanzee, with which we share something like 98.5 percent of our DNA (and many of the world’s top scientists agree with that).
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Dr Goodall started studying the chimpanzees at Gomba in western Tanzania in 1960 and she worked at it constantly until comparatively recently, making it the longest such study anywhere.
I interviewed her often when she came down to South Africa and we used to discuss this DNA phenomenon. She stuck to her guns – a little over 98.5 percent shared by us humans and chimpanzees.
It may be difficult to come to terms with that. Well, it was until the other day when one of those “Did you know….?” type notes arrived in my email inbox.
Among other things it claimed that we humans share 50 percent of our DNA with the banana.
I immediately turned to consult Professor Google and was assured by a swathe of scientists that in fact it is more like 60 percent – so there!
It also emerges that we share about 90 percent of our DNA with certain species of the domestic cat, 85 percent with mice, 80 percent with cows, and about 60 percent with chickens, the fruit fly and of course the banana.
Happily, the scientists point out that DNA is present in all living things, animals and plants, and we all share common bits. It is the genetic material that is essential for life, but I shall leave you with this thought – if you get that feeling that you are being watched, it just could be your cat or even a banana in the fruit bowl sizing you up.
And along similar lines, American behavioral scientists have concluded that despite having brains the size of a walnut, chickens are clever.
Their study, they claim, shows that in many respects chickens are as clever as primates.
For instance, they communicate using a wide repertoire of visual displays and at least 24 different vocalisations.
They are self-aware enough to know their place in the pecking order and can exercise self-control (they won’t eat what’s on offer if they think something better is coming up).
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They are also masters of deception – cock birds will lure hens by making food calls when there is no food around and apparently they lead rich emotional lives, feeling fear, anticipation and empathy.*
Finally, to get your mind off chickens, chimps and bananas, for those who think they have everything, the Morgan motor company in Britain is manufacturing a Morgan EV3 Junior, an electric three-wheeler that can reach speeds of up to 15 kilometres an hour and travel 15 kilometres on a single charge.
This dinky little vehicle is handmade from carbon fibre, leather and wood and the manufacturers say it’s suitable for children from the age of 6 to 96. It costs about R135,000.*
*The Week: The Best of the British and Foreign Media.
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