【央视新闻】长臂猿为何“长臂”？中国研究团队破解百年难题

Core Insights - The research led by the Kunming Institute of Zoology, in collaboration with various domestic and international research institutions, has provided new scientific insights into the evolution, population dynamics, and genetic basis of gibbons, aiding global conservation efforts [2][3]. Group 1: Evolutionary Insights - The study constructed the most comprehensive gibbon genome dataset to date, covering 18 extant gibbon species and successfully obtaining mitochondrial genomes from three ancient samples, including the extinct "Gentle Gibbon" [2]. - The research revealed the evolutionary relationships among the four major genera of the gibbon family, addressing a century-old classification issue and providing a framework for understanding their rapid radiation evolution [2]. - The study confirmed the taxonomic status of the Hoolock gibbon as an independent species and reclassified the "Gentle Gibbon" under the genus Hoolock, correcting previous misconceptions about ancient species classification [2]. Group 2: Population Dynamics - The research reconstructed the population dynamics of gibbons over the past several hundred thousand years, identifying a significant population bottleneck during the Late Pleistocene (approximately 100,000 to 200,000 years ago) followed by a synchronous population recovery around 70,000 years ago [3]. - This population dynamic aligns with global climate changes and sea level fluctuations, indicating that historical climate change has been a key driver of gibbon population fluctuations [3]. Group 3: Genetic Mechanisms of Morphological Traits - The research identified a specific deletion in the regulatory region of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) gene, which is crucial for limb development in vertebrates, through comparative genomic analysis [4]. - Functional validation using transgenic mouse models showed that mice carrying the gibbon-specific gene deletion exhibited significantly elongated limb bones compared to wild-type mice, suggesting that this structural variation played a critical role in the evolutionary elongation of gibbon limbs [4].