3%
3%
by Ben Macnair
They say that a person,
and a Banana share 97%
of the same genetic material.
It is that 3% difference that leads to bones,
Teeth.
Hair.
Skin.
Opposable thumbs.
Inbuilt bullshit detectors.
Technology.
Music.
Science.
Art.
Trolls.
Film.
Pack mentality,
and the internet.
and that the closeness between a human
and a Chimpanzee is only 2%.
We share more with fruit
than we do with the snake
that tempted Eve,
and the DNA difference that leads to
handedness,
hair colour,
genetic disease,
and every other accident of birth
is miniscule.
Because if it was any bigger,
we would be Bananas,
growing on trees,
piled high in super-markets,
knowing that our fates
would lead to the satiation of hunger
in primates, that are so similar to ourselves,
that at the atomic level, only scientists
know the real difference.
I’ll be a monkey’s uncle! Loved the mix of humor yet serious existential ponderance in this piece. Who are we? Who are we really? What is our place in the world and our relationship with all the animals and fruits the world has to offer? It’s a valid point–“scientists know the real difference.” Great read!
This is a good one. I like how the metaphor illustrates how luck and a few genes can make such a difference. We surely do live in a world of accidents.