Susie helps map differences between man and gorilla

A new study by scientists Scientists on Thursday unveiled an upgraded version of the gorilla genome based on DNA from Susie, the Western lowland gorilla at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio. The new research revealed that gorillas and humans are slightly more closely related genetically than previously recognized, with the genomes diverging by just 1.6 per cent. 

Only chimpanzees and bonobos are more closely related to humans. The new genome shows that some areas of genetic differences include: the immune and reproductive systems; sensory perception; the production of keratin, a key protein in the structure of hair, fingernails and skin; and the regulation of insulin, the hormone that governs blood sugar levels. 

Having complete and accurate reference genomes to compare allows researchers to uncover these differences, said researcher Christopher Hill, one of the lead authors of the study published in the journal Science. Recent studies have estimated that the gorilla and human evolutionary lineages split about 12 million to 8.5 million years ago, Hill said.