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Birth of ‘human-specific’ genes during primate evolution

  • Chapter
Origin and Evolution of New Gene Functions

Part of the book series: Contemporary Issues in Genetics and Evolution ((CIGE,volume 10))

Abstract

Humans and other Anthropoids share very similar chromosome structure and genomic sequence as seen in the 98.5% homology at the DNA level between us and Great Apes. However, anatomical and behavioral traits distinguish Homo sapiens from his closest relatives. I review here several recent studies that address the issue by using different approaches: large-scale sequence comparison (first release) between human and chimpanzee, characterization of recent segmental duplications in the human genome and analysis of exemplary gene families. As a major breakthrough in the field, the heretical concept of ‘human-specific’ genes has recently received some supporting data. In addition, specific chromosomal regions have been mapped that display all the features of ‘gene nurseries’ and could have played a major role in gene innovation and speciation during primate evolution. A model is proposed that integrates all known molecular mechanisms that can create new genes in the human lineage.

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  1. Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS UMR 6097, 660 route des Lucioles, Sophia-Antipolis, 06560, Valbonne, France

    Jean-Louis Nahon

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M. Long

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© 2003 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Nahon, JL. (2003). Birth of ‘human-specific’ genes during primate evolution. In: Long, M. (eds) Origin and Evolution of New Gene Functions. Contemporary Issues in Genetics and Evolution, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0229-5_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0229-5_9

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