Topic: Monkeys go out on a limb to show gratitude

[sam]

"I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" is not a phrase that scientists have always associated with non-human primates in the past. But a new study shows that this kind of give-and-take could explain much of their selfless behaviour.

http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100112/full/news.2010.9.html

[Rik]

Primates exchange grooming for other things, such as food, protection and sex.

So, much like marriage then? 

[GillE]

Did anyone see that Horizon programme last week which compared apes and dogs?  Apparently, the great apes don't understand pointing or have an ability to read human emotions.  Dogs can do both of these.

[Simon]

Would that be because dogs and humans mix a bit more than humans and chavs apes?

[GillE]

Apparently not Simon!

 

It's the other way round - because dogs can read human emotions, they mix better with humans.  It's typical of what Darwin would have identified as adaptive behaviour; just compare the great ape population with the dog population.

[Simon]

But doesn't it still boil down to the point that dogs have mixed with humans, and have therefore learned to read human emotions?  Chicken and egg, perhaps?  

[sam]

But doesn't it still boil down to the point that dogs have mixed with humans, and have therefore learned to read human emotions?  Chicken and egg, perhaps?  

Well I guess if they couldn't understand us at some level initially they would never have been able to have been domesticated?

[Simon]

Good point, and I guess one wouldn't necessarily want to domesticate a great ape.  It might make a mess of the curtains. 

[sam]

Good point, and I guess one wouldn't necessarily want to domesticate a great ape.  It might make a mess of the curtains. 

 

[GillE]

If you watch the programme, Simon, you'll understand how it was that dogs used a capacity to assess the emotions of human beings as a means of inveigling their way into our society.  If you don't want to use iPlayer, the programme is being repeated tonight on the Beeb's Sign Zone.

[Simon]

It looks interesting, Gill, but I have to admit, if I record it, I probably wouldn't get round to watching it for months.

[Rodders]

Interesting to see that the marvelous episode about dogs is, for the moment, still available on the BBC's iPlayer website.  I suppose it might then be theoretically possible for someone to even permanently save it as an .avi file if one were to use something like IPDL, for example.  Of course, I personally wouldn't dream of doing so.

[GillE]

I'd never countenance that, Rodders.  Not when I've got Get_iPlayer. 

[Rodders]

Don't worry, Gill.  I won't tell a soul.   

[sam]

... I have a server in the UK too.. bliss!