Extinct gorilla's genetic legacy found in eastern gorillas
A research study led by the University of Vienna and the Institute of Evolutionary Biology has discovered evidence of gene flow from an extinct gorilla population to present-day eastern gorillas. The study analyzed the genomes of gorillas using modern statistical methods and found that up to 3% of the genome of eastern gorillas includes genes from the extinct population. The researchers also identified functional effects of this genetic input, including the introduction of a bitter taste receptor gene that may have been under positive selection. The study provides valuable insights into the evolutionary history of gorillas and the effects of gene flow from extinct populations.