Male humans have a strong genetic similarity to male gorillas, scientists have found.

The human and gorilla Y chromosome have more in common than either do to the same male chromosome in chimpanzees - which are otherwise mankind's closest genetic relation within the animal kingdom.

The study was carried out by researchers at Pennsylvania State University in the US, and could be used to study male-specific disorders as well as help in the conservation of endangered species.

Lead researcher Prof Kateryna Makova said the team had been surprised when they compared the three Y chromosomes and found the similarities.

In regions of the chromosome where we can align all three species, the sequence similarity fits with what we know about the evolutionary relationships among the species - humans are more closely related to chimpanzees. Prof Kateryna Makova, Pennsylvania State University

The Y chromosome in mammals have proved difficult for scientists to sequence, largely because males only have one copy of the chromosome.

The Y is paired with a female X chromosome - while women and female animals have two X chromosomes.

There is also a higher number of repeated DNA sequences in the Y chromosome than is seen in others.

The study was reported in the Genome Research journal.