Primate phylogenomics uncovers multiple rapid radiations and ancient interspecific introgression

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Evolutionary Biology
• Primate Phylogenetics

Background:

• Primate evolutionary history is continually revised by genome sequencing and fossil evidence.
• Recent introgression is known in primates, but deeper historical introgression remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reconstruct primate evolutionary history by analyzing genome-wide data and fossil evidence.
• To investigate phylogenetic relationships, hybridization, and biogeographical history within primate groups.
• To identify instances of introgression between ancestral primate lineages.

Main Methods:

• Generated new reference genome assemblies for three Old World monkey (OWM) species.
• Combined new data with 23 existing primate genomes for phylogenetic analysis.
• Estimated species and gene trees using thousands of loci and performed fossil-calibrated molecular dating.

Main Results:

• The reconstructed species tree aligns with previous primate phylogenetic hypotheses.
• Gene trees show high genealogical discordance, indicating multiple primate radiations.
• Identified multiple instances of introgression between ancestral primate lineages through gene tree discordance patterns.

Conclusions:

• Genome-wide data resolve contentious primate relationships and provide insights into evolutionary processes.
• The study highlights the complexity of primate evolutionary history, including ancient introgression.
• Findings contribute to a revised understanding of primate phylogeny and biogeography.