What separates humans from animals? What makes us uniquely human?

Not much. We have opposable thumbs that make us wonderfully adept at handling tools and making music and art. Birds make music too, but they don't invent saxophones. For a long time it was believed that language was the most significant difference. But it isn't: dogs have over 50 different kinds of yips, yelps, barks, growls whines and so on. Not to mention they can learn some 300 words in whatever language they listen too as pups. Whales too communicate over long distances, and bees communicate by dancing. Our ability to care for the ill and dying is what makes us humane. Chimps will comfort each other, but they haven't the slightest clue of how to apply a splint to a broken leg. We take care of people we don't even know - most often because we are paid to do it, but what's so bad about this? Caring for the ill is very important and not everyone is patient enough to clean up feces 10 times a day. And often enough we adopt children just because we want a child to love. That's just admirable. In other respects, we cannot deny that we are animals. We have the same head, spine, torso and four limbs that every animal from reptiles to elephants have. Pigs have nearly all the same organs we have, and chimps have all of them. Interesting trivia fact about humans: Humans are the only mammals that do not have a bone in the penis.

Humans- can be heartless, but whut we also hav is kindness, lov, care, forgiveness Animals- hunt ravenously, doesnt care whut gets in the way, dont care about their mate, they eat, or hurt their partner after they're done Humans- are like animals, only, more civilised they're animals that hav surpassed humans, in my opinion, e.g Heroic pets they wuld giv their lives to save their owner, wuld their owner do the same?..

I cannot believe that no one said this - OUR BRAIN. That is your answer, plain and simple. Never ever has this planet seen a species with such a developed brain. All the rest of the attributes mentioned above come from it. Except maybe the opposing thumb, which was one of the causes of humans developing such a large brain. And that is not due to the porn, btw. Although it did crack me up. Where would the world be without it, hah? :)

For those who said compassion, Neanderthals cared for their sick and members who were unable to contribute to society, and they were a separate species.

Consciousness and a verbal form of communication come to mind. Opposable thumbs are good, too. Without them, we'd likely still be hunter/gatherers.

humans are animals. genetics, socilaization, adaptation to a changing world have led us to how and where we are now.

i dont know. but i hate being human. i hate everything about it.

Laughter and the ability to comprehend our own mortality. Not to mention we have thumbs.

the opposable thumb & the frontal lobe