| Abstract: | The subject of this review is an issue that was hotly debated even before the emergence of molecular data into the field of primate systematics. It is an understatement to say that dissenting opinions exist as to whether the chimpanzee (Pan) or gorilla (Gorilla) is the closest relative of humans (Homo) or whether, in fact, a three-way split in an ancestral population resulted in three separate lineages that are evolutionarily equidistant. The purpose of this review is to introduce the novice to the problems and methodologies of molecular phylogenetic analysis and to summarize the studies that have applied this approach in attempting to resolve the human-African ape trichotomy. The intent is to present the contribution of each study to the resolution of higher primate relationships. |
