Bonobos were the closest to the common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees
The results of the analysis of the muscular system of the dwarf chimpanzee, the Bonobo has shown that these primates are anatomically closer to the ancestors of humans than common chimpanzees. Their findings, scientists from George Washington University presented on pages of Scientific Reports.
According to molecular biology, about eight million years ago, chimps split from humans. About two million years ago, bonobos split from a common ancestor of humans and common chimpanzees. In earlier studies, scientists examined the similarities and differences in the DNA of bonobos and common chimpanzees. In the new work, anthropologists have compared the muscles of these two types of muscle people.
The researchers examined the bodies of seven bonobos of Antwerp zoo, who died a natural death. It turned out that the bonobos in their structure closer to the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees. The fact that the muscular system of the dwarf chimpanzees evolved less than an ordinary chimpanzee. Moreover, between the muscular system the Bonobo and humans, scientists have found 13 differences, and between the muscular system common chimpanzees and humans — 20 differences.
The researchers noted that understanding the differences between humans and their closest living relatives may lead to new breakthroughs in human health.