Unveiling the Genetic Legacy: Tracing Gorillas' Hidden Evolutionary Lineage
A recent study published in Nature Ecology and Evolution reveals that there was a gene flow event from an extinct gorilla population to present-day eastern gorillas. By analyzing the genomes of gorillas, researchers discovered that up to 3% of the genome of eastern gorillas contains genes from this extinct lineage, which separated from the common ancestors of all gorillas over 3 million years ago. The study also found that the genetic input from the extinct ancestors can have functional effects on present-day species, such as the introduction of a bitter taste receptor gene that may have been under positive selection. This research provides valuable insights into the evolutionary history of gorillas and the effects of gene flows from extinct populations.
