Give an example of characteristics being used to determine how close two species are in evolutionary terms.
Solution:
Let us take the instance of humans and chimpanzees. Chimpanzees are able to express a wide range of emotions, such as busting out in laughter or smiling – this trait was once thought to be a feature exclusive to humans. The smile can be linked to the activation of the brain’s limbic system, where the orbicularis oculi muscle involuntarily contracts and raises the cheeks, forming wrinkles around the eyes. This implies that the smile is a true and genuine smile. Interestingly, this type of reflex has a name – the Duchenne smile. Moreover, research has shown that chimpanzees share 98.6% of our DNA – This means that humans and chimpanzees shared a common ancestor aeons ago. It is also important to note that chimpanzees are the closest living relatives to humans.
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