There is little doubt that our self-esteem as a species has benefited greatly from the fact that we are from an extended family that is quickly dying off. We are the last surviving members of our genus Homo and one of only eight surviving species of the family Hominidae (colloquially known as the “Great Apes”) and the most widely successful one at that. Our lack of close contact with these relatives has made us think of ourselves as quite special and unique for far too long…