A new study reveals that chimpanzees have genetically adapted to thrive in their natural habitats and avoid malaria. These primates, sharing over 98% of their DNA with humans, provide insights into human evolutionary history and malaria biology.
Conducted by an international team led by University College London, the study indicates that climate and land use changes will likely impact different chimp populations variably. Lead author Professor Aida Andrés emphasized the uniqueness of chimpanzees, stating, "Except for humans, all other apes live exclusively in forests."
The researchers analyzed DNA from 828 wild chimpanzees using fecal samples collected through the Pan African Programme: The Cultured Chimpanzee (PanAf). They performed the largest study of local adaptation in wild endangered mammals to date, focusing on the protein-coding part of the genome known as exomes.
Findings identified genetic adaptations related to disease-causing microorganisms, particularly malaria. Two genes, GYPA and HBB, known for their roles in malaria adaptation in humans, were also linked to wild forest chimpanzees. This suggests that adaptation to malaria occurred independently in both species.
Additionally, the study indicates that chimpanzees have adapted to savannah habitats characterized by higher temperatures and lower food availability. Researchers believe that insights from savannah chimps could illuminate how human ancestors adapted to similar environments millions of years ago.
Co-author Dr. Hjalmar Kuehl noted that this groundbreaking study was made possible through international collaboration to collect non-invasive data. Dr. Mimi Arandjelovic encouraged community involvement in research at ChimpandSee.org.