Tiny Genetic Differences between Humans
and Other Primates Pervade the Genome
Genome comparisons reveal the DNA that
distinguishes Homo sapiens from its kin
by Kate Wong on October 1, 2016
In 1871 Charles Darwin surmised that humans were evolutionarily closer to the African apes than to any other species alive. The recent sequencing of the gorilla, chimpanzee and bonobo genomes confirms that supposition and provides a clearer view of how we are connected: chimps and bonobos in particular take pride of place as our nearest living relatives, sharing approximately 99 percent of our DNA, with gorillas trailing at 98 percent.
Yet that tiny portion of unshared DNA makes a world of difference: it gives us, for instance, our bipedal stance and the ability to plan missions to Mars. Scientists do not yet know how most of the DNA that is uniquely ours affects gene function. But they can conduct whole-genome analyses—with intriguing results. For example, comparing the 33 percent of our genome that codes for proteins with our relatives' genomes reveals that although the sum total of our genetic differences is small, the individual differences pervade the genome, affecting each of our chromosomes in numerous ways.
*Graphic by Martin Krzywinski, Illustrations by Portia Sloan Rollings; SOURCES: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ, GENOME BROWSER (chimp, gorilla and bonobo data); MAX PLANCK SOCIETY (Denisovan data); “INITIAL SEQUENCE OF THE CHIMPANZEE GENOME AND COMPARISON WITH THE HUMAN GENOME,” BY CHIMPANZEE SEQUENCING AND ANALYSIS CONSORTIUM, IN NATURE, VOL. 437; SEPTEMBER 1, 2005; “INSIGHTS INTO HOMINID EVOLUTION FROM THE GORILLA GENOME SEQUENCE,” BY AYLWYN SCALLY ET AL., IN NATURE, VOL. 483; MARCH 8, 2012; “THE BONOBO GENOME COMPARED WITH THE CHIMPANZEE AND HUMAN GENOMES,” BY KAY PRÜFER ET AL., IN NATURE, VOL. 486; JUNE 28, 2012; “A HIGH-COVERAGE GENOME SEQUENCE FROM AN ARCHAIC DENISOVAN INDIVIDUAL,” BY MATTHIAS MEYER ET AL., IN SCIENCE, VOL. 338; OCTOBER 12, 2012
**This article was originally published with the title "The 1 Percent Difference" in SA Special Editions 25, 4s, 112 (October 2016); doi:10.1038/scientificamericanhumanity0916-11
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