What makes humans different from animals

I recently have got a copy of Against the Grain by Richard Manning, which covers some of the same questions that I studied at university.

What is it that makes humans so different from other animals?

Obviously we enjoy uniquely adaptable bodies, with skillful hands, a highly mobile head, and the ability to manipulate and focus effectively on objects close to us. Within that body, we are capable of making use of the benefits that derive from a larger brain. However, I think that the ability to pass information across your own generation, and down through other generations is vital. It meant that individuals were no longer limited by their own experience, they could draw upon the collected wisdom of their species. So although we consider ourselves as individuals, our real role, as with ants, is merely as a small component of our generation, collating and passing on our understanding.

Passing on your understanding is much quicker than trying to evolve your way out of a problem. It gives us an edge in unpredictable times. And in a competitive situation, an edge need not be large to be significant, when it comes down to it, the one with edge wins.

It would be interesting to study the proverbs, sayings, beliefs, religions, customs, of different peoples, considering them as cultural adaptations to the environment that they faced. What do these things tell us about peoples that are no longer there, how did they cope with their environment.

What is our cultural toolkit now, and what does it begin to tell us about ourselves?