Insights into hominid evolution from the gorilla genome sequence

Gorillas are humans’ closest living relatives after chimpanzees, and are of comparable importance for the study of human origins and evolution. Here we present the assembly and analysis of a genome sequence for the western lowland gorilla, and compare the whole genomes of all extant great ape genera. We propose a synthesis of genetic and fossil evidence consistent with placing the human–chimpanzee and human–chimpanzee–gorilla speciation events at approximately 6 and 10 million years ago. In 30% of the genome, gorilla is closer to human or chimpanzee than the latter are to each other; this is rarer around coding genes, indicating pervasive selection throughout great ape evolution, and has functional…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: FP7/2007-2013, HG002385, 0739133
• HH
  Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• WT
  Wellcome Trust

  Awards: 075491/Z/04, FP7/2007-2013
• SN
  Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung

  Award: FP7/2007-2013
• AO
  Academy of Finland
• CT
  Cambridge Trust
• L
  Lundbeckfonden
• EA
  Emil Aaltosen Säätiö
• DF
  Danmarks Frie Forskningsfond
• GC
  Gates Cambridge Trust
• HL
  H. Lundbeck A/S
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: U54 HG003079, FP7/2007-2013, HG002385, 075491/Z/04, HG003079
• MR
  Medical Research Council
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
• NH
  National Human Genome Research Institute

  Awards: U54 HG003079, HG003079, NHGRI U54 HG003079