Things That Make Us Superior
There are so many things that make us different and special in this universe. Read on to know more…
Just like other living things, we need food for our survival and shelter for our protection from enemies or severe climate. Some people believe that the main difference between humans, animals, and plants is our ability to think, and some are of the view that we use complex language while animals and plants can’t use words to share their ideas and thoughts.
It’s true that humans possess various cognitive abilities that cannot be seen or found in different animals and plants, such as we are able to plan things and can transform the way we do day-to-day tasks. We are also able to speak in multiple languages.
Despite these differences, there are so many interesting things that make us special. Let’s check out more.
The Larynx (Also Called Voice Box)
It is believed that humans have diverged from an ape ancestor more than 120,000 years ago. It is also said that the shape of the vocal tract and mouth has changed with time. For example, the larynx (voice box) and tongue have moved down the tract.
Unlike the tongue of animals, our tongue has become more flexible and independent than ever. It is now attached to the hyoid bone, which isn’t attached to any bone in the human body.
A major disadvantage of this evolutionary change is that the flexibility of our tongue has come with increased risks of food going down the wrong tract. This often causes choking.
The Hand And Opposable Thumbs
Almost all primates have opposable thumbs; this means they can easily move around to touch different fingers. However, the human thumb is different from that of other primates because of its unique size and location.
It is said that humans have longer and larger thumb muscles. It is also believed that our hands have evolved to be smaller and lighter and our fingers are straighter than before.
Naked, Hairless Skin
Mammals like elephants, rhinoceros, and whales are hairless, but we are the only primates who have naked skin. It is said that humans evolved this way due to climatic changes. About 200,000 years ago, a lot of changes in our environment took place that demanded our forefathers to travel long distances for water, food, and shelter.
We also have a large number of sweat glands, known as eccrine glands. It would have never been possible to make these sweat glands efficient and effective without losing hair to dissipate heat.
Blushing Response
Charles Darwin wrote in his book (The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals) that blushing responses are what make humans special or unique. These are among the most beautiful and interesting expressions.
Blushing is part of the ‘fight or flight response’ of the sympathetic nervous system that leads the capillaries in the cheeks to dilate involuntarily in response to embarrassment or other similar types of feelings. No other living thing has this feature.
Awareness Of Death
One of the best traits we have is our awareness of death. Animals, plants and other living organisms aren’t aware of the fact that they will die sooner or later.
We are not only familiar with this truth but also try to save our lives in the best possible ways. For example, if an accident has taken place, we get admitted to a hospital and doctors, nurses and other medical experts try to save us.
Regardless of our religious beliefs or thoughts regarding what would happen after death, we have accepted the truth that he who lives will die one day. Some species react when they are about to die or one of their own has died, but they don’t have the knowledge of mortality.