Teaching and Sharing May Have Set Early Humans Apart from Apes

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 19:00:00 -0500

The frontier of knowledge that we aim to advance with this research is knowledge about the behavioral factors--not just the physiological factors--that may have contributed to divergence of the groups that became the ancestors of all humans, and those that became the ancestors of apes. Knowledge of the possible importance of teaching and sharing in this divergence provides us with a needed perspective on the fundamental importance of these behaviors to our humanity. In this way, expanding our nation's scientific literacy can also expand their humanity.