【科技日报】长臂猿最全面基因组数据集构建

Core Insights - The research team led by the Kunming Institute of Zoology has successfully resolved evolutionary relationships and phenotypic genetic foundations of gibbons, publishing their findings in the journal "Cell" [1] Group 1: Research Findings - The study utilized advanced genomic techniques to create the most comprehensive gibbon genome dataset, covering 18 extant gibbon species and three ancient samples, including the extinct "Gentleman Gibbon" [1] - The team established the evolutionary sequence of the four major gibbon genera, resolving a century-long classification dispute and confirming the "Gentleman Gibbon" found in the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang belongs to the genus Nomascus [1] - Genomic analysis indicated that most gibbons experienced a population bottleneck during the Late Pleistocene, approximately 70,000 years ago, which is highly correlated with global climate change [1] Group 2: Genetic Mechanisms - The research identified a specific deletion in the regulatory region of the SHH gene in gibbons, which was confirmed through transgenic mouse experiments to lead to relative growth of limb bones, providing important insights into the genetic mechanisms of gibbon morphological evolution [2]