Why Is the Gorilla the Closest to the Human Race?

The gorilla belongs to the taxonomic family Hominidae, which also encompasses chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans and humans. All members of the family share 97 percent of their DNA, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Similarities between gorillas and humans have led to enlightening discoveries. For example, in the area of diet, according to David Raubenheimer, a nutritional ecologist at Massey University, by understanding the gorilla diet, researchers can better understand the human diet.

  1. Chromosomes

    • Gorillas and humans share a similar number of chromosomes; gorillas have 24 pairs and humans have 23 pairs. The chromosomal banding patterns bear striking similarities. It appears that 18 of the 23 chromosomes within gorillas and humans look similar to each other. In humans, gorillas and chimpanzees, chromosomes 3, 11, 14, 15, 18, 20 and Y all look the same. The genes that differ between the species appear to control speech, susceptibility to certain diseases, protein digestion, smelling and hearing, according to the Behavioral Sciences Department at Palomar College.

    Communication

    • Gorillas usually live in groups of six to 30. Within the group, the gorilla uses about 15 recognized vocalizations, according to SeaWorld. Both human and gorilla infants will whine and cry for the aid of their parent and to express their distress or need. Both species also use nonverbal gestures as a form of communication. A male gorilla will use his fists to pound his chest to display aggression. He may also walk in a self-assured way and even have a swagger to show dominance. Despite the gorilla's physical inability to produce human speech, with training apes have shown the ability to identify and create symbols to communicate.

    Tools

    • Both humans and gorillas will utilize tools to achieve a task. Gorillas cannot swim, so prior to making a river crossing, gorillas improvise: one female gorilla used a long stick to test the water's depth, according to "National Geographic." Gorillas have also been observed making bridges out of natural material to cross muddy and excessively wet areas.

    Emotions

    • The gorilla shares and displays emotions similar to humans. Gana, an 11-year-old gorilla, housed at a zoo in Muenster, Germany, blatantly grieved over the death of her infant. The female gorilla continued to carry the infant's body around even after death, holding it and cradling it, according to the Niagara Center for Animal Rights Awareness. Gorillas also appear to tell their dead loved ones goodbye in the form of a funeral or wake, according to "Psychology Today."