There are four genetically distinct chimpanzee populations , all found in two relatively small regions of Africa . And yet these populations , which are sometimes less than a mile asunder , are more genetically diverse than humans that hold out on dissimilar continent .
Three of the vulgar chimpanzee groups are found in very close quarter , as you’re able to see in the map below . While the distinct bonobo race in in red on the southern side of the Congo River , the Eastern , Central , and Cameroonian race spring a most contiguous neighborhood in Central Africa , with only the westerly population isolated from the others by any considerable geographic distance .
That ’s why the results of a unexampled genomic subject comport by an international team of research worker is so surprising . Based on the deoxyribonucleic acid from 54 chimpanzee take on from across these four populations , these Pan troglodytes really are genetically distinct from each other despite often being so close together . What ’s more , the genetic diversity of these unlike chimpanzee populations , even those who are much proper on top of each other , is importantly greater than that found in human beings part by entire Continent . Oxford professor Peter Donnelly explain :
“ Relatively small numbers of humans exit Africa 50,000 - 100,000 years ago . All non - African populations descended from them , and are reasonably similar genetically . That chimpanzee from habitats in the same nation , ramify only by a river , are more distinct than mankind from different continents is really interesting . It speaks to the not bad genetic similarities between human population , and to much more stableness , and less interbreeding , over hundreds of thousands of years , in the chimpanzee group . ”
The gamy level of variety also tote up another wrinkle to ongoing chimp conservation efforts . Until now , it was n’t clear just how clear-cut the different wedge - species really were – in picky , there was considerable argumentation whether the Cameroonian chimps really represented a separate grouping or not – and now we know that these really are very different mathematical group of Pan troglodytes , and we likely require to adjust our conservation plans accord , as study leader Dr. Rory Bowden explains :
“ These findings have important effect for conservation . All great aper populations look unparalleled challenges from habitat red , hunting and emerge infections , and conservation strategies take to be ground on sound understanding of the underlying population social system . The fact that all four recognized population of Pan troglodytes are genetically distinct emphasizes the time value of conserving them independently . Genomics can also provide tools for use in chimpanzee conservation . Genetic tests could stingily and easy name the population of origin of an individual Pan troglodytes or even a sample of bush core . ”
For more , check out the original paper atPLoS Genetics . Image by wwarby onFlickr . Map viaWikimedia .
AfricaChimpanzeeGeneticsGenomicsMonkey newsPrimateScience
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