Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 09:28 Carmen Gomez

Very good news

There are high hopes for a covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University Scientists. They have begun clinical trials which have shown promise in rhesus monkeys that after been given the vaccine, have remained healthy, despite a heavy exposure to the virus.

This is a species of old world monkey which over time has aided a great deal of medical and scientific research; as antigens found in their blood have enabled doctors to identify the different human blood groups. They are said to have six personality factors, compared to our macaques which only have four. The Barbary macaque has a dominance come confidence factor, which is related to social assertiveness and opportunism; factors which relate to aggression and impulsivity; a friendliness factor relating to social affiliation; and an openness factor relating to curiosity and exploratory behaviour.

It is said that such studies of animal personality also shed light on our own personality dimensions. Ultimately we can learn a lot from our primate cousins; not to mention learning a thing or two about ourselves and the social environment in which we evolved. Curiously, from our Barbary macaques; who came over originally from North Africa, but who over time have been born and bred here; we can draw from their four personality factors, some which can assimilate with certain characteristics of ours. The primary one is confidence. Both our ancestors and today`s Gibraltarian, have always had great confidence, enough; despite our size and proximity to them; to stave off any of Spain’s attempts to make us knuckle under. As far as dominance is concerned, although we have no wish to dominate, we nevertheless aptly demonstrate our power of resilience when our wellbeing is threatened. Plus we are a friendly democratic society, committed to openness and transparency.