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Molecular evidence on primate phylogeny from DNA sequences
M Goodman1, W J Bailey, K Hayasaka
1Department of Anatomy, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|May 1, 1994
Summary
DNA evidence clarifies primate phylogeny, confirming groupings like Old World monkeys and apes within Catarrhini. This genetic data strongly supports relationships within primates and rejects bat-primate links.
Area of Science:
- Primate Phylogenetics
- Molecular Systematics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Morphological data has historically presented challenges in resolving primate evolutionary relationships.
- Previous studies have shown conflicting evidence regarding the placement of certain primate groups, such as Tarsioidea and Cheirogaleidae.
- The evolutionary position of bats relative to primates has also been a subject of debate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To resolve phylogenetic relationships within Primates using DNA sequence data.
- To clarify the sister group relationships within Hominoidea (apes and humans).
- To test hypotheses regarding the evolutionary placement of bats in relation to primates and dermopterans.
Main Methods:
- Parsimony analysis of DNA sequences from mitochondrial and nuclear genomes.
- Analysis of orthologous noncoding DNA sequences, including alignments up to 20,000 base positions.
- Likelihood analysis of large sequence datasets and counts of putative synapomorphies.
Main Results:
- DNA evidence strongly supports primate groupings such as Catarrhini (Old World monkeys and apes), Anthropoidea (monkeys and apes), and Strepsirhini (lemurs and lorises).
- DNA data resolves Tarsioidea relationships, grouping them with Anthropoidea into Haplorhini, and supports Cheirogaleidae within Lemuriformes.
- The study provides highly significant evidence for the cladistic classification of Hominoidea, detailing relationships within the Hominidae family, including gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, and humans.
- DNA evidence strongly refutes any close relationship between bats (Chiroptera) and primates or dermopterans, confirming Chiroptera monophyly.
Conclusions:
- DNA sequence data provides a robust framework for understanding primate phylogeny, largely congruent with morphological evidence but offering higher resolution.
- The study establishes clear evolutionary pathways within Hominoidea, confirming the close relationship between humans and chimpanzees.
- Genetic evidence definitively excludes bats from a close evolutionary relationship with primates.