People often wonder about the different traits that animals have that sets them apart from humans. Although a great deal of research has been done over the years, much remains unknown about the animal kingdom and the most basic traits that separate one species from another. In this article, we’ll go over some of the more common traits animals share with us that aren’t actually very unique.
One of the most important questions that scientists have been able to answer is how animals are related to us. One of the major differences between animals and humans is the fact that animals are multicellular organisms, unlike humans, who are essentially single-celled organisms. Multicellular organisms are organisms with multiple cells, including both organs and tissues. Although animals cannot live without multicellular organisms, they typically live in very structured environments, such as an animal’s skin or the cavity of a multicellular organism. With the exception of a few microscopic parasites and single-celled algae, all animals together make up a very diverse kingdom of living things that are related to plants and single-celled organisms.
The next major difference between animals and us is the fact that animals possess tissues. Unlike humans, animals are generally unable to grow their own tissues and organs; all organs and tissues they need to survive are supplied by their mothers. Although it is very difficult for animals to reproduce without having intercourse with another animal, they do form sexual offspring. Sexual reproduction is the basis of all life on earth, which makes animals share a great deal of the same characteristics. Humans and other animals have both independently developed certain key characteristics, such as the fact that animals can walk, whereas humans have evolved into a rather awkward walking creature.
One of the most significant traits that separates animals from one another is the fact that animals are made up of multicellular organisms. Plants consist of a single cell composed of one or multiple molecules. Multicellular organisms (which include bacteria and even you) are more complicated because they have their own nucleus (which is a string of DNA). The nucleus is contained in a cyst, and each cell has its own set of chromosomes. Humans, although they are a multicellular animal, have a single chromosome from which all of our hereditary diseases are inherited.
The next major difference between animals and us is that animals have both sensory organs and an anatomical system. All living creatures use the sense of touch to locate food, to manipulate objects, to attack enemies, or even to flee from predators. There are no such things as sense of smell in an animal; a dog’s nose is not the same as a cat’s. A cat’s sense of smell is much more acute than a dog’s. In both animals, a sharp sense of taste and a uniquely developed sense of touch are used to hunt, catch, and eat their prey. Humans, on the other hand, have a tongue that can be stuck in a pile of bread (or whatever the animal prefers) without creating any pain.
The last major difference between the animal kingdom and the living world is found in the structure of their cells. Except for a few animal species like humans and dolphins, all mammals have a cell wall, a tough outer membrane that protects the nucleus and the other parts of the cell from the harmful effects of oxygen and other particles. The cell wall is made up of a huge number of proteins and is therefore very complex. Like all proteins, it is made up of a series of repeating pairs of amino acids that make up the complete building block of life. The cell wall of the animal kingdom is also highly conserved, unlike the genetic code of a human gene which is almost completely variable.
