Bonobo Genome Mapped, May Unlock New Secrets

Researchers have finally mapped the complete genome of Bonobo, an African ape that is known as humankind's closest relative.

Scientists are quite excited about this discovery as the primate's DNA can help them to reveal some new secrets related to human nature. Humans are actually a mixture of chimpanzee and bonobo genomes. Scientists believe human's violent and better understanding sides are taken from chimpanzee and peace-loving nature is taken from bonobo. Human share these natures like cousins.

Researchers have already mapped gorilla, chimpanzee, orangutan and human genomes and now the catalog of great apes is complete with bonobo's genome mapped. "There's a common ancestor that we and these apes were derived from. We want to know what that ancestor looked like," Wes Warren, a geneticist at Washington University in St. Louis said. "By adding the bonobo to the mix, we have a better idea," he added. Warren was not a part of the research.

"Now, with all the great ape sequences complete, scientists can better use genetics to help determine whether a particular trait cropped up for the first time in humans," Kay Pruefer, a postdoctoral researcher of Max Planck Institute said. Pruefer was the first one to start the bonobo genome study and later worked with an international team that worked on sequencing the DNA of a female bonobo called Ulindi.

Now that the genomes are mapped, it will be used as resources for further studying by testing the genes. Scientists are expected to start this new study soon. The complete report of this study has been published in the journal Nature.

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