"But let 's reverse your scenario and see if it is consistent when animals are placed with humans ? Does the dog , which has been domesticated for centuries now , when adopted by a family as a puppy , adapt to its humans and learn how to be as humans are because of their closeness to us ?"
"No - but then the feral child illustration was intended to highlight the significance of human social 'DNA ' to humans , not to imply that it can civilize any old species . However , you raise a good point which I can turn to my advantage : let 's replace the dogs in your reversed scenario with , say , chimps . Can they learn table manners and use silverware , learn to use the toilet or bathe themselves ? Yes . I 've seen a bonobo prepare a boil-in-the-bag meal . I consider my point concerning the role of social DNA in distinguishing human from animal pretty much made"
"But let 's reverse your scenario and see if it is consistent when animals are placed with humans ?"
"However , you raise a good point which I can turn to my advantage : let 's replace the dogs in your reversed scenario with , say , chimps . Can they learn table manners and use silverware , learn to use the toilet or bathe themselves ? Yes ."