The group studied chromosome and DNA changes through evolution, as well as gene changes and the relationship between the 'normal' macaque and examples of human disease mutations. "The rhesus macaque is physiologically very similar to humans and occupies a key point in the evolutionary tree," said Richard Gibbs, director of the BCM-HGSC and overall coordinator of the project "this has made for an exciting study."Ī Rhesus Macaque Genome Sequence and Analysis Consortium comprising more than 170 scientists from 35 Institutions was established in May 2006, to analyze and interpret the sequence.
Independent assemblies of the rhesus genome data carried out at each of the three sequencing centers and these were joined into a "melded assembly" and the availability of the data was announced at the end of 2005. The rhesus DNA fingerprint database from the Michael Smith Genome Sciences Center at the British Columbia Cancer Agency in Vancouver also was used. Approximately 18 million DNA sequence reads were generated throughout 2005. The DNA sample for the sequencing came from a female rhesus macaque at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research in San Antonio. The sequencing of the rhesus genome was conducted at the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center in Houston, the Genome Sequencing Center at Washington University in St. Ongoing studies will examine the roles of these genes in the evolution of other species.
These include keratin genes, for hair formation. The added divergence of macaque allows for the detection of about 200 genes likely to be under positive selection in primates, that are potential key players in determining the differences between the species. These rearrangements are a key feature of primate evolution.Ĭhimpanzee and human genes are 99 percent similar, while the rhesus macaque genes have an average of 97.5 percent identity to each. There are also many small duplications within the genome that are different between the species. Other important findings of the overall study include extensive sub-microscopic chromosome changes that have occurred relative to humans and chimpanzees. The rhesus macaque genome sequence enhances essential research in neuroscience, behavioral biology, reproductive physiology, endocrinology and cardiovascular studies. It also serves as a valuable model for studying other human infectious diseases and for vaccine research. The rhesus is widely recognized as the best animal model for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The study appeared recently in the journal Science, together with four companion papers that also relied on the genome sequence. As the most distant of the three species, the rhesus provides an ideal reference point for comparisons among the three closely related primates.
An international consortium of scientists including Penn State researchers analyzed the draft genome sequence of the rhesus macaque monkey, the second nonhuman primate, after the chimpanzee, to have its genome sequenced.Ĭredit: Gopinath Sricandane - For image reprints, contact the photographer at: rhesus genome shares about 93 percent of its sequence with both the human and the chimpanzee genome.
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