Boffins unlock gorilla genome, find lazy sperm gene Genes controlling hearing, the creation of knuckle pads and sperm formation have caught the interest of boffins who today published the first sequenced gorilla genome. The data from the project, which sequenced over 140 billion base pairs over a five-year period, implies that in 30 per cent of its genome, the gorilla is closer …
Chimpanzees are of the genus "Pan" which is normally agreed to have two distinct species: Pan paniscus (the Bonobo) and Pan troglodytes (the common Chimpanzee).
Dogs, however are all considered to be a single species, Canis familiaris.
The distinction is due to the amount of differences between the DNA of the types, and also whether it is genetically possible for different types to interbreed - in the case of dogs, apart from sheer physical incompatability any breed of dog can produce viable offspring with any other breed of dog.
This is not believed to be possible between robust and gracile chimps.
Nice to see that they've finally pinned down where we differ from the rest of the apes. What I really want to know, though, is when are they going to make use of this knowledge and try splicing in human genes to see if we can make them more intelligent?
(I really wanted a 'Frankenstein' icon, but this will have to do.)
@JustaKOS
But it would be easier for gorillas since their communities are based around a single male, presumably one who can get pretty much what he wants, when he wants. Unless of course you were speaking of docility in the females and reducing the male population by an order of magnitude. Of course if you reduced the male population that much, you might not need the gene in the first place.
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