> Robert Karl Stonjek wrote:
> >
> > There has been a lot of talk about comparisons between the chimp and
human
> > genome, but what work is being done on human-bonobo genomes?
> >
> > It seems to me that we are much closer to the Bonobo - they have smaller
> > noses than chimps; pink lips; hairless faces; can walk upright carrying
> > items in their hands including food; are less aggressive than Chimps;
have
> > the same physical proportions as Australopithecines; and have similar
sexual
> > apatite to humans.
> >
> > Does anyone have more info on this?
> >
> > Kind Regards,
> > Robert Karl Stonjek.
>
> As a result of your post I searched the web for photos of bonobos.  I
> was somewhat astounded to see that many of them look quite different
> than chimpanzees, and the differenence is toward looking more
> human-like.  Some of the females would almost pass for humans, although
> extremely ugly ones.  These have breasts that look like hairy human
> breasts, and head and faces like defective humans.  Their body shape was
> longer and leaner and more upright. Also notable was that there was a
> lot of variation in their appearance.  Many of them looked pretty much
> like chimpanzees.
>
> The ones that were more human-like also reminded me of reconstructions
> that I have seen of early hominids, such as australopithecine.
>
> So based on their appearance I would call them our closest cousins.
> (but they sure are ugly, to my eyes!  I find chimps and gorillas better
> looking.
>
> Mitchell Timin.
>
RKS:
They have a smaller nose, less prominent jaw, pink lips, and smaller teeth
which is more human like, and less facial hair than a chimp.  They are also
sexually promiscuous and often have sex facing each other, like humans do,
and for reasons other than breeding ie just for fun.

They are also excellent upright walkers and can carry food items (their
hands are free when they walk) etc.

I wasn't suggesting you should date one, though I would point out that she
would be disappointed to find no baculum bone.

For more pictures may I recommend:
"Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape" by Frans de Waal and Frans Lanting
and
"My Family Album: Thirty Years of Primate Photography" by Frans de Waal

Kind Regards,
Robert Karl Stonjek.
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