Cultural evolution has greatly outpaced biological evolution in the expression of the human genome, and as human beings, what identifies us as better than other animals, as far as we know, is our ablity to develop and maintain a form of cognitively cumulative abstract cultural evolution.
That is, history teaches that our cultural aspects build upon themselves, to the extent that no other animal species can emulate. While chimps and dolphins have culture and even language, their cultural aspects are neither complex nor abstract nor particularly cumulative. Thus, the central critical feature of humanity is abstract, not biological.
What matters is what has been done through application of human intelligence and effort throughout the ages that matters. In this respect, our moral rectitude is essential. A species that oppresses its own is as low as the lowest animal, and possibly lower. Our humanity necessarily includes our compassion for others of our own kind, and for others in this world. Every major religion has taught this, and I, for one, subscribe to it.
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