<P> Cultural behavior must involve the use of artifacts . The most famous example in the animal world is the termite stick . Some chimpanzees in Tanzania have learned to fish termites out of their nests using sticks . They select a stick and modify it to fit down an opening in a termite nest, insert it, wiggle it around and withdraw it, eating the termites that have attacked the stick and stuck to it . This fits our criteria for cultural behavior . It is not genetically programmed . Not all chimps do it, as would happen if it were built into the chimps' genes . It involves several complex generalisations and ideas, involving understanding the termites' behavior and how to exploit it, and conceiving of a tool with which to do so . It is taught by mother chimps to their offspring . And it involves the use of an artifact: the stick itself . </P> <P> The difference between the culture of humans and the behaviors exhibited by others is that humans cannot survive without culture . Everything they see, touch, interact with and think about is cultural . It is the major adaptive mechanism for humans . They cannot survive winters in upper latitudes without protective clothing and shelter, which are provided culturally . They cannot obtain food without being taught how . Whereas other organisms that exhibit cultural behavior don't necessarily need it for the perpetuation of their species, they absolutely cannot live without it . </P> <P> Language is an important element in human culture . It is the primary abstract artifact by which culture is transmitted extragenetically (fulfilling points 3 and 4). Only so few can be shown, much more must be explained . Most transmission of the knowledge, ideas, and values that make up a given culture, from the ten commandments to this entry, is done through language . Again, language is an aspect from which humans differ from other animals in degree rather than kind . Once more it is other apes who share the greatest similarities with humans . Though these primates lack the larynx structure that allows for sophisticated vocalization, there are other ways of communicating . The famous female gorilla, Koko, was taught to communicate in American sign language, and she taught it to other gorillas as well . </P> <P> Culture does not mean civilization . It's not necessary to have cities in order to have a culture . Every society does the best it can with its circumstances . Any given social group, and therefore the culture that reflects it, is therefore neither more advanced nor more backward than any other; it is simply the way it is because that way works . If the circumstances should change due to environmental change, population pressure, or historical events, then the culture changes . From an anthropological perspective, none is wrong, and none is right . </P>

Culture is defined as learned behavior that is transmitted from person to person