Crossroads News
Zoobiquity Authors Share Links between Human and Animal Health
The authors of the New York Times bestseller, “Zoobiquity: The Astonishing Connection Between Human and Animal Health,” visited Crossroads to discuss “What Jaguar Breast Cancer, Dolphin Diabetes and Flamingo Heart Attacks Mean for Human Health.”
Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowers, the authors of “Zoobiquity: The Astonishing Connection Between Human and Animal Health,” spoke to parents, students and teachers on Oct. 29, about their fascinating book, which was a New York Times Bestseller and a Discover Magazine Best Book of 2012.
Articulate, witty and accessible, the authors provided myriad examples of how our evolutionary history manifests itself in conditions and behaviors common to animals and humans alike. This overlapping history provided easy entre to subjects that can be otherwise difficult to access, including sexuality, self-injury, addiction and disease.
Called by the LA Zoo to consult on the case of a chimpanzee, Natterson-Horowitz noticed that the chimp had a heart that was indistinguishable from her human patients at UCLA. She wondered what other diseases in the animal world were also experienced by humans and found an overlap that was astonishing. The history and habits within the medical community and veterinarian community provided additional intrigue especially because the two professions rarely communicate or collaborate even though they treat many of the same conditions.
The presentation was followed by a lively and lengthy question and answer session in which students asked one excellent question after another.
