Core Insights - The research led by the Kunming Institute of Zoology has successfully unraveled the evolutionary relationships, endangered history, and genetic basis of the gibbon phenotype, providing scientific support for species conservation [2][3] Group 1: Research Findings - The study utilized advanced genomic techniques to construct the most comprehensive gibbon genome dataset to date, covering 18 extant gibbon species and three ancient samples, including the extinct "Gentle Gibbon" [2] - The research established the evolutionary sequence of the four major gibbon genera, resolving a century-long classification dispute and confirming the "Gentle Gibbon" found in the tomb of Emperor Qin's grandmother belongs to the Hoolock genus [3] - Genetic analysis indicated that most gibbons experienced a population bottleneck during the Late Pleistocene, approximately 100,000 to 200,000 years ago, with a synchronous recovery around 70,000 years ago, closely linked to global climate changes [3] Group 2: Genetic Mechanisms - The study identified a specific deletion in the SHH gene regulatory region, which is crucial for the long-limbed "brachiation" characteristic of gibbons, revealing the core genetic mechanisms behind the evolution of gibbon traits [3] Group 3: Future Implications - This research is a significant achievement in the international "Primate Genome Project" initiated by the Kunming Institute of Zoology, which will continue to provide a high-throughput, precise research platform for life sciences in China and globally, aiding in biomedicine development and biodiversity conservation [4]