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In human genetic studies, the CHLCA is useful as an anchor point for calculating single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rates in human populations where chimpanzees are used as an outgroup, that is, as the extant species most genetically similar to Homo sapiens. Despite extensive research, no direct fossil evidence of the CHLCA has been discovered.
Human evolutionary genetics studies how one human genome differs from another human genome, the evolutionary past that gave rise to the human genome, and its current effects. Differences between genomes have anthropological , medical , historical and forensic implications and applications.
Genetic distance, the genetic divergence between species or between populations within a species; Lowest common ancestor, an analogous concept in graph theory and computer science; Phylogenetic tree, a branching diagram or "tree" showing the inferred evolutionary relationships among various biological species
For example, neutral human DNA sequences are approximately 1.2% divergent (based on substitutions) from those of their nearest genetic relative, the chimpanzee, 1.6% from gorillas, and 6.6% from baboons. [10] [11] Genetic sequence evidence thus allows inference and quantification of genetic relatedness between humans and other apes.
Molecular anthropology, also known as genetic anthropology, is the study of how molecular biology has contributed to the understanding of human evolution. [1] This field of anthropology examines evolutionary links between ancient and modern human populations, as well as between contemporary species.
Common descent is a concept in evolutionary biology applicable when one species is the ancestor of two or more species later in time. According to modern evolutionary biology, all living beings could be descendants of a unique ancestor commonly referred to as the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) of all life on Earth.
Human angiogenin diverged from ribonuclease, for example, and while the two paralogs remain similar in tertiary structure, their functions within the cell are now quite different. [ citation needed ] It is often asserted that orthologs are more functionally similar than paralogs of similar divergence, but several papers have challenged this notion.
Along with the common chimpanzee, the bonobo is the closest extant relative to humans. [4] As the two species are not proficient swimmers, the natural formation of the Congo River (around 1.5–2 million years ago) possibly led to the isolation and speciation of the bonobo. Bonobos live south of the river, and thereby were separated from the ...