A Fine-Scale Chimpanzee Genetic Map from Population Sequencing
Auton A., Fledel-Alon A., Pfeifer S., Venn O., Ségurel L., Street T., Leffler EM., Bowden R., Aneas I., Broxholme J., Humburg P., Iqbal Z., Lunter G., Maller J., Hernandez RD., Melton C., Venkat A., Nobrega MA., Bontrop R., Myers S., Donnelly P., Przeworski M., McVean G.
Going Ape Over Genetic Maps Recombination is an important process in generating diversity and producing selectively advantageous genetic combinations. Thus, changes in recombination hotspots may influence speciation. To investigate the variation in recombination processes in humans and their closest existing relatives, Auton et al. (p. 193 , published online 15 March) prepared a fine-scale genetic map of the Western chimpanzee and compared it with that of humans. While rates of recombination are comparable between humans and chimpanzees, the locations and genetic motifs associated with recombination differ between the species.