DNA Study of Great Apes Reveals Evolution Over 15 Million Years

Scientists may have uncovered a little bit more about the genetic diversity and evolution of apes. They've crafted a model of great ape history during the past 15 million years by studying humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. The findings could not only help researchers understand the history of evolution, but could also aid in current and future conservation efforts.

In order to make this model, researchers conducted genetic analysis on 79 wild and captive-born great apes. These animals represented all six of the great ape species: chimpanzee, bonobo, Sumatran orangutan, Bornean orangutan, eastern gorilla and western lowland gorilla in addition to seven subspecies. The scientists also included nine human genomes in the sampling.

The research was conducted mainly because genetic variation among great apes has largely been uncharted. It's difficult to obtain genetic specimens from wild apes. In this latest effort, though, conservationists aided the scientists by collecting specimens across the globe.

"The research provided us the deepest survey to date of great ape genetic diversity with evolutionary insights into the divergence and emergence of great-ape species," said Evan Eichler, a UW professor of genome sciences and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, in a news release.

In fact, the researchers were able to delineate the many changes that occurred along each of hte ape lineages. This allowed the scientists to examine their evolutionary history as the different populations of apes were separated geographically or merely through genetic separation.

While it's interesting to know the genetic differences between species, the findings also reveal more about disease susceptibility among primate species. In fact, a companion paper revealed genetic evidence in a chimpanzee of a disorder resembling Smith-Magenis syndrome. This disabling physical, mental a behavioral condition in humans could potentially be examined more closely in chimpanzees and could allow scientists to develop better treatments.

It's not only diseases that this new research could help with, though. It could also aid conservation efforts. Many great apes are on the brink of extinction. That means it's crucial to understand their genetic diversity in order to better coordinate conservation efforts. In addition, it could help with zoo breeding programs, which have currently resulted in apes that are genetically dissimilar to their wild counterparts.

"By avoiding interbreeding to produce a diverse population, zoos and conservation groups may be entirely eroding genetic signals specific to certain population in specific geographic locations in the wild," said Peter Sudmant, a UW graduate student in genome sciences, in a news release.

The findings are published in the journal Nature.