Primates and Humans: Similarities

It is already known that humans and primates we share many similarities both from the physical point of view, and from the emotional point of view. However, a study has shown that these similarities go much further. The reason for this conclusion is that orangutans and humans share up to 97% of our genes, relatives a little more distant than the chimpanzees with whom we share up to 99%.

In this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to show you the similarities between primates and humans so that you can get to know these beings so similar to us better.

The research has been carried out by 30 laboratories from seven different countries where several Spanish experts have also participated. One of the most revealing and determining data in this finding has been the genome known as the man of the woods, hitherto unknown.

Regarding this genome, the study has revealed that genetic changes have occurred much more slowly in orangutans than in other species. According to experts, this genome has 13 million genetic variations

their own, which has also been able to demonstrate the diversity between the orangutans of Borneo and those of Sumatra.

These animals that inhabit different territories, separated from their common ancestor about 400,000 million years ago, which explains this situation. In fact, gene diversity is much higher in orangutans from Sumatra in Indonesia than on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia.

Although it may be an insignificant or unimportant fact, experts consider that this new genome will be decisive to help know our evolution in more detail, and in this way obtain more data to investigate some genetic diseases.

Likewise, it can also be a great help for this extraordinary animal species that is in danger of extinction. Again, a great scientific discovery that, in addition to being surprising, can be very important for the advances in medicine.