Why Are Humans The Only Animals With Chins?

Skip to main content Pause rotating carousel Toggle Navigation

• Education
  • Overview
  • Applied Ethics & Policy Master’s Program
  • Ethical Tech Practicum
  • Undergraduate Programs
  • Applied Ethics +
• Engagement
  • Overview
  • Signature Programs
  • Events
  • Student Groups
  • Trending News
• Research
  • Overview
  • SLAPLAB
  • Center on Risk
  • Journal of Law and the Biosciences
  • Bass Connections
• About Us
  • Overview
  • Mission
  • People
  • Contact Us
  • Visit Us
  • Employment
  • Giving

• Education
  • Applied Ethics & Policy Master’s Program
    • MA Welcome
    • Curriculum
    • Admissions
    • JD/MA Program
    • MD/MA Program
    • The Student Experience
  • Ethical Tech Practicum
  • Undergraduate Programs
    • Focus Cluster: Science & The Public
    • Digital Intelligence Certificate
    • Science and the Public Certificate
    • DukeEngage Washington, DC
  • Applied Ethics +
    • Current & Past Projects
• Engagement
  • Signature Programs
    • SciReg Lab
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Periodic Tables
      • Periodic Tables Events
    • Past Event Series
      • Responsible Data and Emerging Technologies Fireside Chat Series
      • S&S Dinner Dialogues
      • SciComm Lunch-and-Learn
      • Coronavirus Conversations
      • S&S Dialogues
      • Distinguished Speaker Series
  • Student Groups
  • Trending News
    • Duke News
    • World News
    • Science & Society News
• Research
  • SLAPLAB
    • SLAPLAB Researchers
  • Center on Risk
    • Meet our Team
    • Research and Publications
    • Risk Center Events
  • Journal of Law and the Biosciences
  • Bass Connections
• About Us
  • Mission
  • People
    • Leadership & Staff
    • Core Faculty
    • Faculty Governance Committee
    • Associate & Affiliate Faculty
  • Contact Us
    • Sign-Up for Our Newsletter
  • Visit Us
  • Employment
  • Giving
• 

News

.Back to listing

• Duke News
• World News
• Science & Society News

Tue, Feb 02

Why are humans the only animals with chins?

“Little pig, little pig, let me come in,” says the big, bad wolf. “No, no, not by the hair on my chinny chin chin,” say the three little pigs. This scene is deeply unrealistic and not just because of the pigs’ architectural competence, the wolf’s implausible lung capacity, and everyone’s ability to talk.

The thing is: Pigs don’t have chins. Nor do any animals, except for us.

The lower jaw of a chimpanzee or gorilla slopes backwards from the front teeth. So did the jaw of other hominids like Homo erectus. Even Neanderthal jaws ended in a flat vertical plane. Only in modern humans does the lower jaw end in a protruding strut of bone. A sticky-outy bit. A chin.

Read more from the Atlantic.

X