Introduction

One reason for utilizing biology to understand humans is the fact of human natural origins. Humans evolved from apes. Our epigenetic development follows patterns similar to other vertebrates. In our ecological interactions with other species and the physical environment, we face challenges of survival and reproduction much like any other organism. Thus, scientific inquiry based on a homological line of reasoning always has ready justifications. Reconstructions of our phylogenetic past serve the understanding of our current morphological design, as well as psychological and behavioral dispositions. Comparative analyses elucidate which features we share with other species and which combinations of traits are different, in particular with respect to ecologically similar species. Information like this can illuminate biological foundations (i.e., constraints and conditions, of human culture).