skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Phylogenetic relations of humans and African apes from DNA sequences in the Psi eta-globin region

Abstract

Sequences from the upstream and downstream flanking DNA regions of the Psi eta-globin locus in Pan troglodytes (common chimpanzee), Gorilla gorilla (gorilla), and Pongo pygmaeus (orangutan, the closest living relative to Homo, Pan, and Gorilla) provided further data for evaluating the phylogenetic relations of humans and African apes. These newly sequenced orthologs (an additional 4.9 kilobase pairs (kbp) for each species) were combined with published Psi eta-gene sequences and then compared to the same orthologous stretch (a continuous 7.1-kbp region) available for humans. Phylogenetic analysis of these nucleotide sequences by the parsimony method indicated (i) that human and chimpanzee are more closely related to each other than either is to gorilla and (ii) that the slowdown in the rate of sequence evolution evident in higher primates is especially pronounced in humans. These results indicate that features unique to African apes (but not to humans) are primitive and that even local molecular clocks should be applied with caution.

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Wayne State Univ., Detroit, MI (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6971093
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 238:4825
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; APES; DNA SEQUENCING; GLOBULINS; MAN; AMINO ACID SEQUENCE; BIOLOGICAL EVOLUTION; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; ANIMALS; MAMMALS; MOLECULAR STRUCTURE; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PRIMATES; PROTEINS; STRUCTURAL CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; VERTEBRATES; 550200* - Biochemistry

Citation Formats

Miyamoto, M M, Slightom, J L, and Goodman, M. Phylogenetic relations of humans and African apes from DNA sequences in the Psi eta-globin region. United States: N. p., 1987. Web. doi:10.1126/science.3116671.
Miyamoto, M M, Slightom, J L, & Goodman, M. Phylogenetic relations of humans and African apes from DNA sequences in the Psi eta-globin region. United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3116671
Miyamoto, M M, Slightom, J L, and Goodman, M. 1987. "Phylogenetic relations of humans and African apes from DNA sequences in the Psi eta-globin region". United States. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3116671.
@article{osti_6971093,
title = {Phylogenetic relations of humans and African apes from DNA sequences in the Psi eta-globin region},
author = {Miyamoto, M M and Slightom, J L and Goodman, M},
abstractNote = {Sequences from the upstream and downstream flanking DNA regions of the Psi eta-globin locus in Pan troglodytes (common chimpanzee), Gorilla gorilla (gorilla), and Pongo pygmaeus (orangutan, the closest living relative to Homo, Pan, and Gorilla) provided further data for evaluating the phylogenetic relations of humans and African apes. These newly sequenced orthologs (an additional 4.9 kilobase pairs (kbp) for each species) were combined with published Psi eta-gene sequences and then compared to the same orthologous stretch (a continuous 7.1-kbp region) available for humans. Phylogenetic analysis of these nucleotide sequences by the parsimony method indicated (i) that human and chimpanzee are more closely related to each other than either is to gorilla and (ii) that the slowdown in the rate of sequence evolution evident in higher primates is especially pronounced in humans. These results indicate that features unique to African apes (but not to humans) are primitive and that even local molecular clocks should be applied with caution.},
doi = {10.1126/science.3116671},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6971093}, journal = {Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 238:4825,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Oct 16 00:00:00 EDT 1987},
month = {Fri Oct 16 00:00:00 EDT 1987}
}