Human and Chimpanzee Transcriptomes: Comparative Evolution

Abstract

The biological basis of the uniqueness of human abilities is one of the most fascinating research topics of all time. Evolutionary studies now allow us, at least in principle, to identify the underlying functional genetic elements which are specific to humans. However, despite enormous progress in the biosciences over recent years, which has resulted in the complete sequencing of the human genome as well as the genomes of two closely related primate species – chimpanzee and rhesus macaque – the molecular mechanisms underlying human‐specific abilities remain unknown. Gene expression studies now provide us with a powerful tool to identify the functional differences distinguishing humans from chimpanzees, our closest living relatives. From the evolutionary and functional perspective, however, the interpretation of the observed expression differences is almost never as straightforward as we would ideally like.