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Chimpanzees

2 GoKawiil briefs on this topic

Study maps gene regulatory changes behind human skeletal evolution

A Nature paper by Yan et al. used genomics tools to catalog genetic variants, genes and pathways that distinguish the human skeleton from those of chimpanzees, bonobos and gorillas. The work builds on the long-standing idea that human-ape differences arise more from regulatory changes in gene expression than from changes in protein-coding sequences themselves.

nature.com · 2026-09-23

Study finds chimp mothers actively teach tool use by handing tools to offspring

Researchers publishing in Frontiers in Psychology observed that adult chimpanzees, mostly mothers, model tool-use behaviors like extracting hard-to-reach food, then pass their tools directly to young chimps so they can imitate the motions. The team calls this deliberate handoff a form of teaching, distinct from mere observation, that helps juveniles master foraging technology.

arstechnica.com · 2026-09-16