Language

English

Publication Date

6-2-2023

Journal

Science

DOI

10.1126/science.abn7829

PMID

37262161

PMCID

PMC12120848

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

5-29-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

The rich diversity of morphology and behavior displayed across primate species provides an informative context in which to study the impact of genomic diversity on fundamental biological processes. Analysis of that diversity provides insight into long-standing questions in evolutionary and conservation biology and is urgent given severe threats these species are facing. Here, we present high-coverage whole-genome data from 233 primate species representing 86% of genera and all 16 families. This dataset was used, together with fossil calibration, to create a nuclear DNA phylogeny and to reassess evolutionary divergence times among primate clades. We found within-species genetic diversity across families and geographic regions to be associated with climate and sociality, but not with extinction risk. Furthermore, mutation rates differ across species, potentially influenced by effective population sizes. Lastly, we identified extensive recurrence of missense mutations previously thought to be human specific. This study will open a wide range of research avenues for future primate genomic research.

Keywords

Animals, Humans, Biological Evolution, Genome, Mutation Rate, Phylogeny, Primates, Genetic Variation, Population Density

Published Open-Access

yes

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