San Diego Zoo’s western lowland gorilla, Kamilah’s genome sequenced
The genomic sequence of DNA from Kamilah, a 300-pound western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) from the San Diego Zoo, which maintains a DNA library of endangered animals, was published in the latest issue of Nature 483, 164–165 (08 March 2012), published online 07 March 2012. The abstract notes that “…genetic similarities among humans and the apes are more complex than expected, and allows a fresh assessment of the evolutionary mechanisms that led to the primate species seen today.”
Gorillas are the last genus of living great apes to have their genomes sequenced. The human genome sequence was published in 2001; the chimpanzee, in 2005; and the orangutan, in 2011.
The western lowland gorilla is the widespread species of gorilla, with a population estimated at 100,000 – 200,000. The majority of individuals are found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, west Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Angola.
Thank you, Kamilah! We look forward to learning a lot about you… and us!
-Bill at
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