Nature April 29, 2003

Chimps expose humanness


by Helen Pearson

The full text of the article can be accessed here:
http://www.nature.com/nsu/030428/030428-3.html

By studying chimpanzees, scientists are honing their genetic view of humanity, researchers told this week's meeting of the Human Genome Organisation in Cancun, Mexico.

[snip]

The data call for some revision of the estimated genetic similarity between us and our closest relatives. Previously, human and chimp genetic sequences were quoted as being nearly 99% identical, with a difference of only a few DNA's letters. In fact, the similarity may be as low as 94-95%, says Todd Taylor of the RIKEN Genomic Sciences Center in Yokohama, Japan.

[snip]

File Date: 05.10.03