Hominoid heterochromatin: terminal C-bands as a complex genetic trait linking chimpanzee and gorilla

The genetic relations of the apes have been the source of contention throughout the last decade. A potentially useful suite of phylogenetic characters is the distribution of darkly staining material (heterochromatin) in the chromosomes of the apes. While the precise etiology of this character suite remains unclear, it appears to be fairly easily reconciled to hominoid phylogeny in general. The distribution of heterochromatin at the tips of the chromosomes of gorillas and chimpanzees suggests a phylogenetic association between those two taxa exclusive of humans.