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Genetics of Speciation02:16

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.The genetics of speciation involves the different traits or isolating mechanisms preventing gene exchange, leading to reproductive isolation. Reproductive isolation can be due to reproductive barriers that have effects either before or after the formation of a zygote. Pre-zygotic mechanisms prevent fertilization from occurring, and post-zygotic mechanisms...
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Parting ways: Pan-Homo divergence revisited.

João d'Oliveira Coelho1,2,3,4, Robert L Anemone5, René Bobe6,7,8

  • 1Science Department, Gorongosa National Park, Chitengo, Sofala, Mozambique. joaocoelho@gorongosa.net.

Primates; Journal of Primatology
|June 18, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The hominin-bonobo-chimpanzee split occurred in the late Miocene, with molecular estimates now aligning with fossil evidence. This research reconciles long-standing debates on primate divergence timing.

Keywords:
Pan splitDivergence datesHominin originsLate MioceneMetasciencePrimate fossil record

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Area of Science:

  • Paleoanthropology
  • Molecular Anthropology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • The divergence timing between hominins and the bonobo-chimpanzee clade has been a persistent debate in paleoanthropology for over a century.
  • Early molecular studies proposed a wide range of divergence times, from 5 Ma to 1.3 Ma, creating significant discrepancies with fossil evidence.
  • Reconciling molecular clock estimates with the fossil record is crucial for understanding early hominin evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically review and analyze trends in hominin-chimpanzee divergence time estimates from 1967 to 2023.
  • To assess how molecular estimates align with or contradict current molecular and fossil records.
  • To establish a more accurate timeline for the last common ancestor (LCA) of Pan and Homo.

Main Methods:

  • Compilation and critical review of 202 molecular divergence estimates.
  • Definition of three distinct thresholds based on key fossil evidence (4.4 Ma, 6.2 Ma, 7.2 Ma).
  • Filtering of molecular estimates using fossil-based thresholds and Bayesian meta-analysis of genomic data.

Main Results:

  • Molecular estimates have shown a gradual shift from approximately 6 Ma to 8.5 Ma over the past 56 years.
  • Filtering molecular data with fossil thresholds suggests a late Miocene divergence, with estimates ranging from 10.95-8.81 Ma to 8.63-6.38 Ma.
  • Bayesian meta-analysis, using a consensual threshold, indicates a divergence most likely before 7 Ma, with a pooled estimate of 8.69-7.28 Ma.

Conclusions:

  • The molecular timing for the Pan-Homo last common ancestor (LCA) has converged towards intervals supported by the fossil record.
  • Despite initial biases towards younger estimates, current molecular data strongly suggests a late Miocene divergence.
  • The study provides a refined timeline for a pivotal event in human evolution, aligning molecular and fossil evidence.