Human Characteristics: Anatomical and Cultural Traits
Human Specifications
The human is a part of nature. Nature is composed of three realms: inorganic, vegetable, and animal. Humans are part of the animal kingdom. The human is a mammal belonging to the order of primates, as are monkeys. Chimpanzees and monkeys are our cousins and share a number of common characteristics, such as the continuity of blood kinship and sexual life size. However, we have differences: humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, while apes have 24. Humans differ from monkeys on an anatomical and physical level, up to the order of thought.
Anatomical Features
Among the major differences that distinguish humans from other animals are *immature birth*, the scarce hair on the body, *bipedalism*, and *the large size of the brain*.
Immature Birth
Prematurity is one of the characteristics of human beings, along with the consequent helplessness that comes with it. For example, teeth take time to grow, and cranial sutures take time to close. In contrast, animals need to look after themselves from the moment they are born, requiring them to be fit from the start. This is more apparent in the immature brain. A monkey’s brain accounts for 70% of its total development at birth, while a human being is born with only 23% developed, allowing us to grow intellectually.
Bipedalism
Humans have two hands and two feet, while monkeys have four hands. This form of travel has disadvantages compared to other species because they can move faster. However, an advantage is the release of the hands, which is a key feature for the construction of tools.
Brain Size
The use of hands released the jaw from the tasks of collecting and tearing food. This allowed for an increase in brain size. Walking upright from above, muscles can relax and allow for growth at the top. As a result, our brain is bigger than that of other primates. The human brain contains 10 billion nerve cells, which means that our nervous system is more complicated than that of other animals.
Biological Emancipation
The differences between apes and humans are physical. The main difference lies in behavior and cultural life. Humans, in contrast to other beings, relate to nature not only naturally but also culturally, through learning from others. Unlike other species, human biological evolution has given way to cultural evolution, which is what characterizes us.
Culture
Humans live in community with others and benefit from the information passed down by their ancestors. Humans have been able to transform and create a new environment that makes life easier and allows for development beyond the reach of any animal. Culture is the specific lifestyle of a group of people, the way they think, the store of knowledge, how they think, see, and interpret reality.
Subculture & Counterculture
Subculture: Not all individuals within a species live in the same way. In every culture, there are differences, as not all people are involved to the same extent, and their potential is influenced by socioeconomic conditions and social class.
Counterculture is understood as a movement of rebellion against the hegemonic culture that presents a plan for an alternative society (urban tribes, alternative social groups, etc.).