View a FREE sample

Chapter 1, A Tale of Three Chimps

• The species Homo sapiens (humans) is compared and contrasted to Pan troglodytes (chimpanzees).

• The author rapidly presents several broad areas of research, which suggest that chimps are the closest living relative to humans.

• Recently, molecular data obtained from DNA hybridization suggests that humans, chimpanzees, and gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) are all very closely genetically related.
• The author presents a phylogenetic clade of the hominids which shows chimps, humans, and gorillas breaking off from the remaining higher primates.

• The author then argues that humans and chimps should properly be considered to be two species within a single genus; as Homo precedes Pan in the nomenclature, the author suggests chimps be reclassified as Homo troglodytes and, presumably, Homo paniscus.

• The chapter concludes with an ethical discussion about the implications of classifying chimps as Homo.

Chapter 2, The Great Leap Forward

• Chapter 2 presents a brief overview of...

(read more Chapter Abstracts)

This section contains 2,673 words (approx. 9 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample