Read diary

Comments from the community:

need a biologist... or our medical students... sorry Geo... no knowledge here...

take care

rgds
cate

Written by cateblack, 9. Nov 2008 10:47 PM

I googled 'Apart from free will what makes human physiology so different to that of other mammals?' & got the link
www.nimr.mrc.ac.uk/millhillessays/2003/genes/ - 39k -

Genes, learning, behaviour & the outside world. by Jamshed Tata


From the book- Nature via Nurture: Genes, Experience & What Makes Us Human.

"The discovery of how genes actually influence human behaviour, & how human behaviour influences genes, is about to recast the debate entirely.

Written by Gyps, 10. Nov 2008 12:00 AM

No longer is it nature-verses-nurture but nature-via-nurture. Genes are designed to take their cues from nurture. To appreciate what has happened, you will have to abandon cherished notions & open your mind. You will have to enter a world where your genes are not puppet masters pulling the strings of your behaviour, but are puppets at the mercy of your behaviour; a world where instinct is not the opposite of learning, a world where environmental influences are sometimes less reversible than genetic ones, &

Written by Gyps, 10. Nov 2008 12:01 AM

where nature is designed for nurture."

Fascinating reading, absolutely fascinating!
It also goes a long way towards answering your question.

Written by Gyps, 10. Nov 2008 12:03 AM

Did I mention how fascinating this article is?
Its now talking about mental illnesses. Im so absorbed by this article that Im thinking of buying the book!

Written by Gyps, 10. Nov 2008 12:30 AM

Sounds like you've found a great read Gyps. Our intro to Psych during first semester went through alot of the 'nature/nurture thing, and it seems that we are very much 'conditioned' during our early formative years.
What you said re 'opening your mind' is something 'Abraham Maslow's alured to in his hierachy of needs', and the 'self actualisation' theory. This is one of the perspectives of modern Psychology, and yes, it's all VERY facinating. Imagine what would happen to the meat and dairy industries if people changed to a 'vegan' diet???

Written by geo, 10. Nov 2008 06:42 AM

Just checked out that web site, and it's a good one. A great place to search for acredited info such as 'peer reviewed' journal articles is 'Google Scholar'.

Written by geo, 10. Nov 2008 06:52 AM

Geo

Our brains and our ability to talk I think sets us apart from other mammals.

Go Geo!!!

Mrs Studying1

Written by studying1, 10. Nov 2008 07:33 AM

What sets us apart is our bigger brains and thus our capacity to make decisions rather than simply acting on instinct. For example, animals can't plan for the future. Sure, squirrels store nuts for the winter, but this is instinct. No squirrel thinks, "Bugger it. I ain't getting no nuts this winter - I'll call Domino's." Likewise, animals can't make conscious decisions. The male lion doesn't think, "Yeah, I COULD fight that other lion for his harem of wenches. But maybe I should instead clean up a bit, stop carrying on like I'm some king of the jungle dickhead & maybe then single lionesses might like me for ME, not because I won some fight."

The other majorly important thing is our opposing thumbs. That's why animals don't text.

Written by LazyDreamer, 10. Nov 2008 11:24 AM

So far as I know, we are the creatures most able to adapt our environment rather than adapt ourselves to the environment. And that's about the only difference. In fact we have adapted it to such a degree that we are destroying it. I used to think it was the consciousness thing too but I have watched animals plan things and execute them and when that doesn't work change their plan again. I have watched them manipulate.
Also, apes are not the only animals which use tools which was always a defining thing. There is a bird which fishes for grubs with a stick I learned reently.
Language too is becoming more evident in many other species. Our physiology is not much different, but we are not as retricted because we do change our environment rather than adapt to it, which in the long run will probably leave us fairly unevolved and without the resources we have become so used to exploiting we will be pretty helpless.

Written by purple, 10. Nov 2008 12:57 PM

I have also observed an animal problem solve, and humans are not without 'instinct' either. The environment will always be here, in one form or another. Humans on the other hand, may not be so lucky, as you allured to Purple. What hope of survival does this new generation, called 'digital natives' have, if the house of cards we have built crumbles???

Written by geo, 10. Nov 2008 10:54 PM

When I was a kid we had 3 cats.
My cat Smokey was the hunter- snakes, possums, whatever. She also chased dogs & cars regularly.
At night she used to go to a neighbours back verandah & chase their Australian Silky Terrier up & down the length of it so our other 2 cats could eat his food!
This was a nightly occurance.
The dog never learnt to eat all his food at once & his owners never thought to feed their dog inside!
Not only was it planning from my cats but attack & success! Lol

Written by Gyps, 10. Nov 2008 11:13 PM

Pure physiological differences attributing to the idea that "humans are more intelligent" are more cortex though not as previously said "bigger brain", a larynx and manual dexterity. But there are a myriad of differences between species physiologically, and so physiology cannot account for our moral superiority.
So far as I know, our use of fire is what got us going at all. As for the meat question, we need protein and iron, and it is a good source of that. Are we bad to eat other animals? No I don't think so, that's what animals do. Are our farming practises atrocious? Yes.
I also think money is a huge defining factor for why we live differently to other animals.
It has not been properly determined whether our physiology is suitable for meat eating, generally meat eaters have much shorter intestines and teeth with which to catch and kill prey, we certainly would be unable there without tools. The prevalence of diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular, bowel cancer are all there in the question as well and are diet related, but which part given all the trash we ingest? They are also all diseases which have come about from us living much longer...So it's a fair question Geoff on many levels.

Written by purple, 11. Nov 2008 07:52 AM

Sociology is facinating, and the writings of 'Emile Durkheim' and particually the edited book, 'On Morality and Society'. To function as a society there had to be structure, with certain devices to keep us all in check. One vital difference witch separates us from other mammals (as far as we know) is our duality, as rather than monistic, we are heterogeneous, with both a physical and spiritual nature.
Your right Jo, 'money makes the world go round', and promulgated theories on what's best for us, may or may not be correct. We do need all these elements contained in natural food, such as protein/iron as you mentioned, witch are also present in many foods. Then why do we seem to need such vast quantities, for that's what we're told, but do we? Perhaps our systems are so 'clogged' up with un-elimitated waste from overeating lipid soluble foods etc, that we're unable to absorb or make efficient use of lesser amounts!!!

Written by geo, 11. Nov 2008 08:58 AM

"I also think money is a huge defining factor for why we live differently to other animals."

Purple, you supported my point with this comment. Afterall, you need opposing thumbs to be able to insert & remove an ATM card. Hence why dogs don't buy cats using Eftpos.

Written by LazyDreamer, 11. Nov 2008 09:24 AM

Look the whole question is so big re differences, can't even go there really and did try to stick with the physiological as asked..... even the heterogenous argument has it's flaws as it assumes and imposes spirituality on humans in spite of humans continually exhibiting none or total confusion, and so we have religion and law as social mediating influences. It also disregards evidence of what we may define as "spiritual behaviour" in other species. Maybe art and religion sets us apart, perhaps..or the ingesting of substances we know can kill us willingly and repeatedly, I can't think of another species who actually does that. Each school of science tries to answer these questions, and cannot. It couldn't even be said that our diversity within our own species is unique..or could it? The arguments and genetic science showing asians and dark people are different species to white people was pretty quickly hidden too. For any who take offense or want to dispute that please don't, the genetics is actually there as are the physiological differences. Keep hitting us with the good stuff geo, makes me feel I am back in Uni and at least my brain is getting some exercise.
LD...ever the logician. Sorry mate, I can insert my card with my teeth and push buttons with my nose, so as ever with logic if the conclusion is incorrect it is probably based on a false premise and so requires starting all over again. I have seen plenty of pictures of all sorts of animals playing poker by the way!

Written by purple, 11. Nov 2008 06:03 PM

Well, I did say 'As far as we know' re the 'duality' thing. Perhaps one day Dr. Doolittle will reincarnate to give us insite, lol. I like LD's humour, and guess what, I saw dogs playin' poker just the other night.

Think i'll be more specific next time, as I was really talking about internal physiology and how all mammals convert food to energy etc. Like, some gain all their dietary requirements eatin' only grass. Hmmm, I bet LD would go to town on that one....

Written by geo, 12. Nov 2008 05:54 AM