#25: The Kellogg Experiment

In the 1930s, two pioneering scientists, Winthrop Kellogg and his wife Luella, embarked on a groundbreaking cross-rearing study. They raised a 7-month-old chimpanzee named Gua alongside their 10-month-old human son, Donald, treating them as “siblings” for nine months. During this unique experiment, they closely observed their development.

Interestingly, around the 6-month mark, Gua demonstrated a remarkable ability to learn various human behaviors more quickly than Donald. However, in contrast to the human child, Gua couldn’t articulate words or speak. This extraordinary study ended abruptly after 9 months when Donald began imitating Gua’s vocalizations and adopting chimp-like behaviors, shedding light on the complexities of interspecies interactions and development.