Chimps give insight into human evolution

Similarities have been discovered in the way humans and chimpanzees walk on two legs, providing insight into early human evolution.

Early chimp-like ancestors of humans were better at upright walking than previously thought, scientists have found.

The US research analysed the independent motions of the hips, lumbar and thorax in modern chimpanzees and humans, concluding that there were similarities in the way they rotated their bodies when walking.

The scientists found that the direction of a chimp's upper body alignment during a stride was different to humans, but the extent of their movements relative to the pelvis was almost identical.

They also said the main difference between the movements was that chimpanzees rotated their pelvis more than humans.