Hundreds of new primate genomes offer window into human health—and our past
Thursday, June 1, 2023 - 13:13
in Biology & Nature
Humans have long seen themselves mirrored in other primates, with apes’ social behavior and cognitive abilities shedding light on our own. Now, two international teams have stared deeper into the mirror. By sequencing the genomes of more than 200 nonhuman primates, from palm-size mouse lemurs to 200-kilogram gorillas, they have come up with clues to human health and disease, and to the origin of our species. The genomes and their analyses , reported today in Science and Science Advances , represent a massive effort involving more than 100 researchers from about 20 countries who braved logistical challenges and bureaucratic gauntlets to collect blood...