Similarities Between Chimpanzee And Bonobos

Chimpanzees and bonobos are characterized as the closest living relatives of humans. Studies have shown that the humans and apes descended from the same ancestor nearly six million years ago. It was at this time that their DNA sequences began to diverge from one another. Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus) stemmed from the same Pan ancestor, but split about two million years ago when the Congo River formed (Prufer, 2012). While the separation between the Homo and Pan lineages occurred some time ago, their genetic makeup, social interactions, and reproductive patterns create for a strong link between the three species. Humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos are alike in many ways, both in body and behavior. It is their DNA, though, that allowed scientists to discover how closely related the species actually are. Humans share …show more content…
We both use sex as a way to cope with emotions, interact socially, and show affection to our partners. Bonobos are known for having higher sex drives than chimpanzees, as they engage in sex for recreational purposes rather than just reproduction purposes like chimpanzees. Studies have shown that male bonobos and female chimpanzees are more likely to initiate a courtship behavior than that of the other sex (Hashimoto, 2006). Similar to humans, female apes become sexual mature in their early teen years. They typically reproduce one or two offspring every few years. This lower reproduction rate is a result of them spending a longer time taking care of their offspring, again resembling the human race. They protect their infants, teach them survival techniques, and provide them with the nutrients they need before they are able to go out and fend for themselves. Humans obviously go about raising their children in a similar manner, dedicating years of their time to teach their children and instill a moral thought process they can use in