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Primate evolution at the DNA level and a classification of hominoids
M Goodman1, D A Tagle, D H Fitch
1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201.
Journal of Molecular Evolution
|March 1, 1990
Summary
Genetic distances from primate DNA sequences align with traditional phylogenetic trees, clarifying human evolution. Molecular data precisely positions humans within the primate family tree, resolving ambiguities from morphological studies.
Area of Science:
- Primate evolutionary biology
- Molecular genetics
- Phylogenetics
Background:
- Traditional primate phylogeny relies on morphological data, which can present ambiguities.
- Molecular data offers a complementary approach to understanding evolutionary relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare genetic distances derived from noncoding DNA sequences with those from DNA hybridization.
- To resolve phylogenetic ambiguities in primate evolution using molecular data.
- To objectively determine the cladistic position of humans within the primate order.
Main Methods:
- Estimation of genetic distances using orthologous noncoding nucleotide sequences of beta-type globin loci.
- Cross-hybridization of total genomic single-copy DNAs to estimate DNA distances (delta T50H values).
- Construction of a maximum parsimony tree based on nucleotide sequence orthologues.
Main Results:
- Genetic distances from noncoding DNA closely match distances from DNA hybridization.
- The molecular phylogenetic tree largely agrees with morphological analyses but resolves ambiguities.
- Molecular data confirms the placement of humans with chimpanzees (Hominina), gorillas (Hominini), and orangutans (Homininae).
Conclusions:
- Molecular data provides an objective and resolved view of primate phylogeny, including human evolutionary placement.
- The study confirms the cladistic relationships within primates, from strepsirhines to humans.
- Apparent discrepancies in evolutionary rates between molecular and morphological levels may be explained by the impact of small genetic changes on phenotype.