Question: How are animals similar to us

Lydia Bach answered on 19 Nov 2014:

Hello Charlotte,

We have many similarities with animals!
For starters, humans and animals have similar cells – with components like a nucleus where our genetic material is stored in, or mitochondria which fuel our cells.
Many animals have blood like we do, although for example crab blood is blue and not red, and animals need oxygen to function. Animals and humans have to get energy from fat, sugars and carbs, which fuels us.
We share many sensory organs with animals – they often have eyes, they can smell and they have touch and hear!

We are also builders, just look at large skyscrapers in the large cities. So are animals. Some apes for example build sophisticated nests or ants cultivate trees to grow in a way which suits them as a home.

Humans are called homo sapiens, which means the wise man. Clearly we are an intelligent species, but there are many different ways of measuring intelligence and animals can be intelligent too. For example, crows can unlock doors and find hidden objects based on a single period of observation, outperforming many humans.

Many animals also use tools, just like we do: for example Chimps use stones as hammers and anvils and fashion spears for hunting.

– We actually have a lot in common with animals, don’t you think?! 🙂