Above: Kanzi, a bonobo chimpanzee Chimpanzees and bonobos ("pygmy chimpanzees") are our closest living relatives, sharing about 98 percent of their DNA sequencing with modern humans. Based on rates of evolution and the current fossil record, it is estimated that humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos all share a common ancestor about eight million years ago. Stone Age Institute researchers have taught modern apes to make stone tools for over two decades. This song is an homage to the Byrds recordings of the 1960s, with Nick Toth playing a 12-string Rickenbacker guitar."



1. Ninety-eight percent chimpanzee

The other two percent that holds the key

That makes you you, and makes me me

We’re ninety-eight percent chimpanzee

2. Ninety-eight percent chimpanzee

A big divergence in the family tree

Knuckle walking/bipedality

Ninety-eight percent chimpanzee (BRIDGE) Last common ancestor

Eight million years before us

Arboreal ape in a tropical land,

Last common ancestor

In Africa’s primal forest

One branch leads to Homo the other to Pan

"98% Chimpanzee" Your browser does not support the audio element. Click the > to play the music file. To download the song to your computer, click here and select "Save File" if prompted. "98% Chimpanzee" © 2013. Music and Lyrics by Nicholas Toth and Kathy Schick, THE STONE AGE INSTITUTE®. All rights reserved. Vocals:

Carrie Newcomer

and

Wild African Chimpanzees Guitar, Bass, Hammond Organ:

Nicholas Toth Drums, Percussion:

Tom Schoenemann Percussion:

Kathy Schick Engineer:

Kevin Loyal Recording at Echo Park Studio, Bloomington

© 2013, THE STONE AGE INSTITUTE®. 3. Ninety-eight percent chimpanzee

Three times the cranial capacity

That lets us live symbolically

Ninety-eight percent chimpanzee 4. Ninety-eight percent chimpanzee

The other two percent that holds the key

That makes you you, and makes me me

We’re ninety-eight percent chimpanzee