Immunoglobulin Gm allotypes in apes: Comparison with man

Serum samples from 245 apes (184 Pan troglodytes, five Pan paniscus, 28 Gorilla gorilla, 23 Pongo pygmaeus abelei, and five Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) were tested for G1m (1,2,3,17), G2m (23), and G3m (5,6,10,11,13,14,15,16,21,24,28) immunoglobulin allotypes by the classical method of inhibition of hemagglutination. Some phenotypes are species specific while a few are shared by man and African apes.     

Sexual Dimorphism and Facial Growth Beyond Dental Maturity in Great Apes and Gibbons

The great apes and gibbons are characterized by extensive variation in degree of body size and cranial dimorphism, but although some studies have investigated how sexual dimorphism in body mass is attained in these species, for the majority of taxa concerned, no corresponding work has explored the full extent of how sexual dimorphism is attained in the facial skeleton. In addition, most studies of sexual dimorphism combine dentally mature individuals into a single “adult” category, thereby assuming that no substantial changes in size or dimorphism take place after dental maturity. We investigated degree and pattern of male and female facial growth in Pan troglodytes troglodytes, Pan paniscus, Gorilla gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus, and Hylobates lar after dental maturity through cross-sectional analyses of linear measurements and geometric mean values of the facial skeleton and age-ranking of individuals based on molar occlusal wear. Results show that overall facial size continues to increase after dental maturity is reached in males and females of Gorilla gorilla gorilla and Pongo pygmaeus, as well as in the females of Hylobates lar. In male Pongo pygmaeus, adult growth patterns imply the presence of a secondary growth spurt in craniofacial dimensions. There is suggestive evidence of growth beyond dental maturity in the females of Pan troglodytes troglodytes and Pan paniscus, but not in the males of those species. The results show the presence of statistically significant facial size dimorphism in young adults of Pan paniscus and Hylobates lar, and of near statistical significance in Pan troglodytes troglodytes, but not in older adults of those species; adults of Gorilla gorilla gorilla and Pongo pygmaeus are sexually dimorphic at all ages after dental maturity. The presence of sex-specific growth patterns in these hominoid taxa indicates a complex relationship between socioecological selective pressures and growth of the facial skeleton.     

A chimpanzee-derived chromosome-specific alpha satellite DNA sequence conserved between chimpanzee and human

We describe a cloned 2.7 kb alpha satellite sequence, Pan-3, from the pygmy chimpanzee (Pan paniscus) that specifically hybridizes in situ to chromosome 19 in the pygmy chimpanzee and to the homeologous human chromosome, no. 17. Using high stringency conditions of hybridization on Southern blots, this sequence hybridized to DNA from both species of chimpanzee (P. paniscus and P. troglodytes) and from human but not to DNA from gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) or orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). Partial sequence analysis showed that Pan-3 and a previously described human chromosome 17-specific clone have up to 91% sequence identity. To our knowledge this is the highest sequence similarity reported between alphoid subsets from human and any other primate.by T.C. Hsu     

Ontogeny and the evolution of adult body size dimorphism in apes

This analysis investigates the ontogeny of body size dimorphism in apes. The processes that lead to adult body size dimorphism are illustrated and described. Potential covariation between ontogenetic processes and socioecological variables is evaluated. Mixed-longitudinal growth data from 395 captive individuals (representing Hylobates lar [gibbon], Hylobates syndactylus [siamang], Pongo pygmaeus [orangutan], Gorilla gorilla [gorilla], Pan paniscus [pygmy chimpanzee], and Pan troglodytes [“common” chimpanzee]) form the basis of this study. Results illustrate heterogeneity in the growth processes that produce ape dimorphism. Hylobatids show no sexual differentiation in body weight growth. Adult body size dimorphism in Pongo can be largely attributed to indeterminate male growth. Dimorphism in African apes is produced by two different ontogenetic processes. Both pygmy chimpanzees (Pan paniscus) and gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) become dimorphic primarily through bimaturism (sex differences in duration of growth). In contrast, sex differences in rate of growth account for the majority of dimorphism in common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Diversity in the ontogenetic pathways that produce adult body size dimorphism may be related to multiple evolutionary causes of dimorphism. The lack of sex differences in hylobatid growth is consistent with a monogamous social organization. Adult dimorphism in Pongo can be attributed to sexual selection for indeterminate male growth. Interpretation of dimorphism in African apes is complicated because factors that influence female ontogeny have a substantial effect on the resultant adult dimorphism. Sexual selection for prolonged male growth in gorillas may also increase bimaturism relative to common chimpanzees. Variation in female growth is hypothesized to covary with foraging adaptations and with differences in female competition that result from these foraging adaptations. Variation in male growth probably corresponds to variation in level of sexual selection. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Sexual dimorphism in relative sacral breadth among catarrhine primates

As the sacrum contributes to the size and shape of the birth canal, the sexually dimorphic sacrum of humans is frequently interpreted within obstetric contexts. However, while the human sacrum has been extensively studied, comparatively little is known about sacral morphology in nonhuman primates. Thus, it remains unclear whether sacral sexual dimorphism exists in other primates, and whether potential dimorphism is primarily related to obstetrics or other factors such as body size dimorphism. In this study, sacra of Homo sapiens, Hylobates lar, Nasalis larvatus, Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus, Pan troglodytes, and Pan paniscus were evaluated for sexual dimorphism in relative sacral breadth (i.e., the ratio of overall sacral breadth to first sacral vertebral body breadth). Homo sapiens, H. lar, N. larvatus, and G. gorilla exhibit dimorphism in this ratio. Of these, the first three species have large cephalopelvic proportions, whereas G. gorilla has small cephalopelvic proportions. P. pygmaeus, P. troglodytes, and P. paniscus, which all have small cephalopelvic proportions, were not dimorphic for relative sacral breadth. We argue that among species with large cephalopelvic proportions, wide sacral alae in females facilitate birth by increasing the pelvic inlet's transverse diameter. However, given the small cephalopelvic proportions among gorillas, an obstetric basis for dimorphism in relative sacral breadth appears unlikely. This raises the possibility that sacral dimorphism in gorillas is attributable to selection for relatively narrow sacra in males rather than relatively broad sacra in females. Accordingly, these results have implications for interpreting pelvic dimorphism among fossil primates, including hominins. Am J Phys Anthropol 152:435–446, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Regional localization of human M-BCR gene to chromosome 23 band q11 in the great apes

We hybridized a human M-BCR DNA probe to the chromosomes of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), gorilla (Gorilla gorilld) and orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) by FISH-technique. The human M-BCR gene was localized to chromosome 23 band q11 (23q11), which is equivalent to the human chromosome 22 band q11 in all three species. The conservation of M-BCR gene in higher primates at the corresponding human chromosome locus provides phylogenetic clues concerning the evolution of genes.     

Molecular evolution of IgG subclass among nonhuman primates: implication of differences in antigenic determinants among Apes

The cross-reactivity of five different rabbit polyclonal antibodies to human IgG and IgG subclass (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4) was determined by competitive ELISA with nine nonhuman primate species including five apes, three Old World monkeys, and one New World monkey. As similar to those previously reported, the reactivity of anti-human IgG antibody with plasma from different primate species was closely related with phylogenic distance from human. Every anti-human IgG subclass antibody showed low cross-reactivity with plasma from Old World and New World monkeys. The plasma from all apes except for gibbons (Hylobates spp.) showed 60 to 100% of cross-reactivity with anti-human IgG2 and IgG3 antibodies. On the other hand, chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes andPan paniscus) and orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) plasma showed 100% cross-reactivity with anti-human IgG1 antibody, but gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) and gibbon plasma showed no cross-reactivity. The chimpanzee and gorilla plasma cross-reacted with anti-human IgG4 antibody at different reactivity, 100% in chimpanzee and 50% in gorilla, but no cross-reactivity was observed in orangutan and gibbon plasma. These results suggest the possibilities that the divergence of “human-type” IgG subclasses might occur at the time of divergence ofHomo sapience fromHylobatidae, and that the molecular evolution of IgG1 as well as IgG4 is different from that of IgG2 and IgG3 in great apes, this is probably caused by different in development of immune function in apes during the course of evolution.     

Evolution of chromosome Y in primates

We have investigated, by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), the cytogenetic evolution of the Y chromosome in primates using 17 yeast artificial chromosomes, representative of the Y-specific euchromatic region of the human chromosome Y. The FISH experiments were performed on great apes (Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla and Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus), and on two Old World monkeys species as an outgroup (Cercopitecidae Macaca fascicularis and Papio anubis). The results showed that this peculiar chromosome has undergone rapid and unconstrained evolution both in sequence content and organization. Received: 16 January 1998; in revised form: 29 May 1998 / Accepted: 24 June 1998     

The use of leafy twigs for rain cover by the pygmy chimpanzees of Wamba

Pygmy chimpanzees (Pan paniscus) of Wamba sometimes put leafy twigs on their bodies in a rain. In some cases, those twigs seemed to be effective against the rain-impact. There is no record that common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) show the same behaviour, but similar or more elaborate use of twigs as rain cover is recorded among orang-utans (Pongo pygmaeus).     

Polymorphism of erythrocyte phosphoglucomutase,adenylate kinase and adenosine deaminase in northern Thailand

Summary Phenotypes of the erythrocyte enzymes phosphoglucomutase (PGM) (n-587), adenylate kinase (AK) (n=695), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) (n=616) were determined by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis in Thai subjects from norther Thailand, mainly from the provinces of Chiang Mai and Lamphun. The following gene frequencies were calculated: PGM ₁ ¹ 0.7385 PGM ₁ ² 0.2487 PGM ₁ ⁶ 0.0102 PGM ₁ ⁷ 0.0026, AK ¹ 0.9950 AK ² 0.0050, ADA ¹ 0.9180 ADA ² 0.0820.The regular, apparently autosomal transmission of the PGM ₁ ⁶ and PGM ₁ ⁷ alleles was demonstrated in 7 families revealing sufficient data.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Phänotypen der Erythrocytenenzyme Phosphoglucomutase (PGM) (n=587), Adenylatkinase (AK) (n=695), and Adenosindeaminase (ADA) (n=616) wurden mittles horizontaler Stärkegelelektrophorese bei Thailändern aus Nordthailand, hauptsächlich aus den Provinzen Chiang Mai und Lamphun, bestimmt. Auf Grund der Ergebnisse wurden die in der englischen Zusammenfassung angegebenen Genfrequenzen berechnet. Die regelmäßige, anschinend autosomale Vererbung der Allele PGM ₁ ⁶ und PGM ₁ ⁷ wurde in 7 Familien mit ausreichenden Daten nachgewiesen.

---

---

Established and supported by Stiftung Volkswagenwerk.     

Great apes track hidden objects after changes in the objects' position and in subject's orientation

Eight chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), five bonobos (Pan paniscus), five gorillas (Gorilla gorilla), and seven orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) were presented with two invisible object displacement tasks. In full view of the subject, a food item was hidden under one of three opaque cups resting on a platform and, after an experimental manipulation, the subject was allowed to select one of the cups. In the rotation task, the platform was rotated 180° while the subject remained stationary. In the translocation task, the platform remained stationary while the subject walked to the opposite side from where she saw the reward being hidden. The final position of the food relative to the subject was equivalent in both tasks. Single displacement trials consisted of only one manipulation, either a rotation or a translocation, whereas double displacement trials consisted of both a rotation and a translocation. We also included no displacement trials in which no displacements took place. No displacement trials were easier than single displacements which, in turn, were easier than double displacements. Unlike earlier studies with children, there was no difference in performance between rotation and translocation displacements. Overall, apes performed above chance in all conditions, but chimpanzees outperformed the other species. This study reinforces the notion that the great apes use an allocentric spatial coding. Am. J. Primatol. 72:349–359, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The phosphoglucomutase (PGM1)-groups in the Swiss population

Summary The distribution of the phosphoglucomutase(PGM₁)-groups was studied on blood samples obtained from 2638 Swiss adults. The distribution was found to be in excellent agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The obtained gene frequencies were similar to those observed in other Caucasian populations (PGM ₁ ¹ =0.7586, PGM ₁ ² =0.2414). In 942 mother/child pairs no theoretical impossible combinations were found. No significant difference was observed between the gene frequencies of men and of women. An unusual phenotype, probably 3-1, was found in blood samples from 3 unrelated adults (1 woman and 2 men). In addition 2 children (a child of the woman and a child of one of the men) were found to have this rare phenotype.

---

Zusammenfassung An einem Untersuchungsgut von 2638 Blutproben von schweizerischen Erwachsenen wurde die Verteilung der Phosphoglucomutase(PGM₁)-Gruppen untersucht. Die gefundene Verteilung ist in ausgezeichneter Übereinstimmung mit dem Hardy-Weinberg-Gesetz. Die Frequenzen stimmen mit denen anderer kaukasischer Bevölkerungen überein (PGM ₁ ¹ =0,7586, PGM ₂ ¹ -0,2414). In 942 Mutter/Kind-Paaren wurden keine theoretisch unmögliche Kombination gefunden. Es bestand keine signifikante Differenz zwischen den Genfrequenzen von Frauen und Männern. Bei 3 nichtverwandten Personen (1 Frau, 2 Männer) wurde ein seltener Phänotyp (wahrscheinlich 3-1) beobachtet. Der gleiche Typ wurde bei 2 Kindern gefunden (eines war das Kind der Frau, das andere dasjenige von einem der Männer).

     

Food-Associated Calling in Gorillas (Gorilla g. gorilla) in the Wild

Many nonhuman primates produce food-associated vocalizations upon encountering or ingesting particular food. Concerning the great apes, only food-associated vocalizations of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus) have been studied in detail, providing evidence that these vocalizations can be produced flexibly in relation to a variety of factors, such as the quantity and quality of food and/or the type of audience. Only anecdotal evidence exists of eastern (Gorilla beringei) and western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) producing food-associated vocalizations, termed singing or humming. To enable a better understanding of the context in which these calls are produced, we investigated and compared the vocal behavior of two free-ranging groups of western lowland gorillas (Gorilla g. gorilla) at Mondika, Republic of Congo. Our results show that (a) food-associated call production occurs only during feeding and not in other contexts; (b) calling is not uniformly distributed across age and sex classes; (c) calls are only produced during feeding on specific foods; and (d) normally just one individual gives calls during group feeding sessions, however, certain food types elicit simultaneous calling of two or more individuals. Our findings provide new insight into the vocal abilities of gorillas but also carry larger implications for questions concerning vocal variability among the great apes. Food-associated calls of nonhuman primates have been shown to be flexible in terms of when they are used and who they are directed at, making them interesting vocalizations from the viewpoint of language evolution. Food-associated vocalizations in great apes can offer new opportunities to investigate the phylogenetic development of vocal communication within the primate lineage and can possibly contribute novel insights into the origins of human language.     

Interspecific and Ontogenetic Variation in Proximal Pedal Phalangeal Curvature of Great Apes (Gorilla gorilla, Pan troglodytes, and Pongo pygmaeus)

Considerable attention has been devoted to understanding phalangeal curvature in primates, particularly with regard to locomotion. Previous work has found that increased phalangeal curvature may be indicative of increased grasping during suspensory and climbing behaviors, but the details of this relationship, particularly as regards feet, is still unclear. Using behavioral studies to predict an interspecific gradient of variation in pedal phalangeal curvature, I collected digital data from the third and fifth digit proximal pedal phalanges in adult Gorilla gorilla, Pan troglodytes, and Pongo pygmaeus and calculated included angles of phalangeal curvature to assess the appropriateness of pooling digits within taxa and evaluate the association between variation in pedal phalangeal curvature and frequency of climbing behavior. I also used an ontogenetic sample of Pan troglodytes to evaluate the postnatal relationship between variation in phalangeal curvature and grasping behaviors. I found intraspecific variation in phalangeal curvature suggesting among-digit variation in grasping behaviors. Curvature of Pongo was significantly greater than of both Pan and Gorilla. In contrast, Pan was significantly more curved than Gorilla only in comparison of third digits. Ontogenetic decreases in pedal phalangeal curvature among Pan troglodytes accorded well with postnatal decreases in documented climbing frequency. These findings largely support earlier work regarding the association between arboreal grasping and phalangeal curvature, and provide a unique intraspecific analysis that illuminates a number of areas where our knowledge of the behavioral and biomechanical determinants of phalangeal curvature should be explored further, particularly with respect to the role of among-digit variation in phalangeal curvature.     

Tooth cusp sharpness as a dietary correlate in great apes

Mammalian molars have undergone heavy scrutiny to determine correlates between morphology and diet. Here, the relationship between one aspect of occlusal morphology, tooth cusp radius of curvature (RoC), and two broad dietary categories, folivory and frugivory, is analyzed in apes. The author hypothesizes that there is a relationship between tooth cusp RoC and diet, and that folivores have sharper teeth than frugivores, and further test the correlation between tooth cusp RoC and tooth cusp size. Eight measures of tooth cusp RoC (two RoCs per cusp) were taken from 53 M²s from four species and subspecies of frugivorous apes (Pongo pygmaeus, Pan troglodytes troglodytes, Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii, and Gorilla gorilla gorilla) and two subspecies of folivorous apes (Gorilla beringei beringei, and Gorilla beringei graueri). Phylogenetically corrected ANOVAs were run on the full dataset and several subsets of the full dataset, revealing that, when buccolingual RoCs are taken into account, tooth cusp RoCs can successfully differentiate folivores and frugivores. PCAs revealed that folivores consistently had duller teeth than frugivores. In addition, a weak, statistically significant positive correlation exists between tooth cusp size and tooth cusp RoC. The author hypothesizes differences in tooth cusp RoC are correlated with wear rates, where, per vertical unit of wear, duller cusps will have a longer length of exposed enamel ridge than sharper cusps. More data need to be gathered to determine if the correlation between tooth cusp RoC and tooth cusp size holds true when small primates are considered. Am J Phys Anthropol 153:226–235, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Distances électrophorétiques entre l'Homme,le Chimpanzé (Pan troglodytes) et le Gorille (Gorilla gorilla) basées sur la mobilité des enzymes érythrocytaires

Summary Electrophoretic mobilities of homologous erythrocyte enzymes at 21 loci studied in man (Homo sapiens), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) led to estimations of the genetic distances between the three species: If each form is placed at a corner of an isoscele triangle, the distance between the chimpanzee and either of the other two is greater than that between the latter two.     

Evolution of an intronic microsatellite polymorphism in Toll-like receptor 2 among primates

Nonhuman primates express varying responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis: New World monkeys appear to be resistant to tuberculosis (TB) while Old World monkeys seem to be particularly susceptible. The aim of this study was to elucidate the presence of the regulatory guanine–thymine (GT) repeat polymorphisms in intron 2 of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) associated with the development of TB in humans and to determine any variations in these microsatellite polymorphisms in primates. We sequenced the region encompassing the regulatory GT repeat microsatellites in intron 2 of TLR2 in 12 different nonhuman primates using polymerase chain reaction amplification, TA cloning, and automatic sequencing. The nonhuman primates included for this study were as follows: chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), bonobo (Pan paniscus), gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), Celebes ape (Macaca nigra), rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta), pigtail macaque (Macaca nemestrina), patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas), spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), Woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha), tamarin (Saguinus labiatus), and ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta). Nucleotide sequences encompassing the regulatory GT repeat region are similar across species and are completely conserved in great apes. However, Old World monkeys lack GT repeats altogether, while New World monkeys and ring-tailed lemurs have much more complex structures around the position of the repeats. In conclusion, the genetic structures encompassing the regulatory GT repeats in intron 2 of human TLR2 are similar among nonhuman primates. The sequence is most conserved in New World monkeys and less in Old World monkeys.     

Genetic diversity among African great apes based on mitochondrial DNA sequences

The mitochondrial DNA D-Loop region was sequenced, analyzed and used as a molecular marker for populations of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), bonobo (P. paniscus) and gorilla (Gorilla gorilla and G. beringei), and also compared with data previously reported for these taxa. In Gorilla, a main disjunction between western (G. gorilla) and eastern (G. beringei, including G. b. graueri) species was observed, as well as high mitochondrial diversity within the western species. The genetic distance values within G. gorilla (0.14) were higher than those between subspecies (eastern lowland and mountain 0.12). Likewise, values of genetic diversity within this species (0.05) were higher than those between species (western and eastern lowland gorilla 0.04). Similarly, in genus Pan a main differentiation between western (P. t. verus) and central forms (P. t. troglodytes and P. t. schweinfurthii) was observed. The obtained values of genetic distance and genetic diversity revealed that the central subspecies are closer to each other than either of them is to the western one, while bonobos composed a distinct clade that expresses a well-defined specific identity. The current distribution, phylogeny and levels of genetic diversity in African great ape populations are consistent with the hypothesis that Pleistocene climatic events led to cyclical periods of isolation in forest refugia followed by expansion and dispersal. The implications of this high level of genetic diversity for taxonomic classification, wildlife management and conservation are discussed.     

Comparative forefoot trabecular bone architecture in extant hominids

The appearance of a forefoot push-off mechanism in the hominin lineage has been difficult to identify, partially because researchers disagree over the use of the external skeletal morphology to differentiate metatarsophalangeal joint functional differences in extant great apes and humans. In this study, we approach the problem by quantifying properties of internal bone architecture that may reflect different loading patterns in metatarsophalangeal joints in humans and great apes. High-resolution x-ray computed tomography data were collected for first and second metatarsal heads of Homo sapiens (n = 26), Pan paniscus (n = 17), Pan troglodytes (n = 19), Gorilla gorilla (n = 16), and Pongo pygmaeus (n = 20). Trabecular bone fabric structure was analyzed in three regions of each metatarsal head. While bone volume fraction did not significantly differentiate human and great ape trabecular bone structure, human metatarsal heads generally show significantly more anisotropic trabecular bone architectures, especially in the dorsal regions compared to the corresponding areas of the great ape metatarsal heads. The differences in anisotropy between humans and great apes support the hypothesis that trabecular architecture in the dorsal regions of the human metatarsals are indicative of a forefoot habitually used for propulsion during gait. This study provides a potential route for predicting forefoot function and gait in fossil hominins from metatarsal head trabecular bone architecture.     

Polymorphisme electrophorétique de la post-albumine et de la transferrine dans les différentes sous-espèces de singes anthropoïdes

Summary The electrophoretic polymorphism of post-albumin and transferin was investigated in 46 apes of the Pan troglodytes. Gorilla gorilla and Pongo pygmaeus subspecies. This type of study enables the different subspecies to be distinguished and the ancestral from to be identified. The pattern of individual variability is found to be different between the various ape species and Homo sapiens.

---

Polymorphisme electrophorétique de la post-albumine et de la transferrine dans les différentes sous-espèces de singes anthropoïdes

Résumé Le polymorphisme électrophorétique de la postalbumine et de la transferine est étudié chez 46 individus apprrtenent à diverses sous-espèces de Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla et Pongo pygmaeus. Il est ainsi possible de distinguer les différentes sous-espèces et de proposer lesquelles d'entre elles sont les formes ancestrales. L'étendue du polymorphisme est différente chez les différentes espèces de singes et chez Homo sapiens.