Bonobos more closely linked to us than chimps? : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Bonobos more closely linked to us than chimps?

WASHINGTON: Scientists have found that the muscular system of bonobos — a rare great ape species with a black face and black hair — may be more closely linked anatomically to the human ancestors than common chimpanzees.

Bonobos more closely linked to us than chimps?

Photo source: iStock



Washington

Scientists have found that the muscular system of bonobos — a rare great ape species with a black face and black hair — may be more closely linked anatomically to the human ancestors than common chimpanzees.

A researcher Bernard Wood from George Washington University in the US said bonobo muscles have changed least, which means they are the closest we can get to having a 'living' ancestor.

Scientists believe that modern human and common chimpanzee/bonobo lineages split about eight million years ago with the two great ape species splitting about two million years ago.

The team examined seven bonobos from the Antwerp Zoo that had died and were being preserved according to them, it was an extremely rare opportunity given bonobos' status as an endangered species.

The researchers found that by studying the muscles of bonobos, they were able to discover that they are more closely related to human anatomy than common chimpanzees, in the sense that their muscles have changed less than they have in common chimpanzees.

Earlier studies examined the DNA similarities and differences between bonobos and common chimpanzees, but this was the first study to compare the muscles of the three species.

 Lead study author Rui Diogo from Howard University explained that their study has shown that there is a mosaic evolution of the three species, in the sense that humans share some features with bonobos, some with chimpanzees and others by the two ape species.

Diogo further stated that each of the chimpanzees species share about three percent of genetic traits with humans that are not present in the other chimpanzee species.

The scientists note that having a clear understanding of what makes humans different from our closest living relatives might lead to new breakthroughs or understandings of human health. — ANI

 

Top News

'When government changes...': Rahul Gandhi after Rs 1,800 crore fresh I-T notice to Congress

'When government changes...': Rahul Gandhi after Rs 1,800 crore fresh I-T notice to Congress

The Congress leader accuses the BJP of indulging in ‘tax ter...

Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in UP's Banda orders judicial inquiry into death of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari

UP court orders judicial probe into gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s death, seeks report in a month

Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari on Tuesday alleged that his brother...

‘Heart attack or poisoning’: The life and times of Mukhtar Ansari—crime and politics

‘Heart attack or poisoning’: The life and times of Mukhtar Ansari—crime and politics

Eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh are among the poorest regions...

CBI files chargesheet against 20 institutes, 105 individuals in Himachal Pradesh multi-crore scholarship scam

CBI files chargesheet against 20 institutes, 105 individuals in Himachal Pradesh multi-crore scholarship scam

22 educational institutions were on CBI radar in the scholar...


Cities

View All