• Question: How similar are we to monkeys and apes?

    Asked by ExplosiveBiskit to David, Sarah, Zoe on 20 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: David Foley

      David Foley answered on 20 Nov 2014:

      We are about 96% percent identical to apes and monkeys at a DNA level. A key difference between us is that humans have a slightly more complicated way of using the DNA to express proteins – essentially we can expressed more proteins per piece of DNA than a monkey can.

    • Photo: Sarah Ashwood

      Sarah Ashwood answered on 21 Nov 2014:

      As David said we are incredibly similar in our genetic make-up.
      Our DNA has just advanced more through evolution to mean that despite being genetically very similar we are physically more advanced. Though that has taken millions of years!

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