Researchers found significant genomic rearrangements in human and non-human primate DNA, suggesting a new source of variation between species. These findings may provide insights into human health and disease, and could inform targeted investigations of gene expression differences.
A new USC study suggests that humans lost the ability to detect pheromones due to a gene essential for vomeronasal organ function. The study found that mutations in this gene occurred around 40 million years ago, leading to the disappearance of the gene and subsequent loss of vomeronasal organ function in primates.
Scientists have developed a powerful new technique called phylogenetic shadowing, enabling them to study biological traits unique to the primate family. This allows for better understanding of humans by comparing with apes and monkeys.
The behavior of punishing others for their injury is widespread in the animal kingdom, with humans adding a conscious sense of what to achieve through revenge. This leads to complex social rules governing who can be targeted and when, often prioritizing balance over personal relationships.
Dendritic cells may play a key role in accepting transplanted organs, and researchers are exploring a cell-based strategy to induce tolerance. Studies in nonhuman primates suggest that certain types of dendritic cells can regulate the immune response and prevent rejection.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine trained macaque monkeys to recognize changes in a display screen, rewarding them with juice for correct responses. The study found that neurons in the visual cortex increased activity when an event was likely to occur, allowing primates to develop expectations and prepare accordingly.
According to a recent report from Conservation International, 25 primates are now threatened with extinction, with Asia accounting for almost 45% of the world's most endangered primates. Habitat loss and hunting are major factors in the decline of these species, and urgent conservation action is required to prevent extinctions.
Scientists have discovered two new monkey species, Callicebus bernhardi and Callicebus stephennashi, which are named after Prince Bernhard and Stephen Nash. These discoveries highlight the vast biodiversity of the Amazon rain forest, with over 95 species of primates found in Brazil alone.
A UMass anthropologist has investigated the dental development of an extinct primate species, revealing that these early primates developed teeth rapidly to adapt to their environment. The study found that these ancient lemurs had highly developed teeth by birth, allowing them to survive on solid food shortly after birth.
A new statistical approach reveals primates originated 85 million years ago, rather than 65 million, due to gaps in the fossil record. This challenges traditional methods of interpreting fossils and constructing evolutionary trees, including the human lineage.
A study found that nearly 800 monkeys in Cameroon were infected with simian immunodeficiency viruses, highlighting the risk of human exposure through hunting and handling primates. The diversity among the viruses suggests a high degree of human exposure to SIVs.
A new study published in Science supports the idea that Asia was the center of origin for key groups of modern mammals, including primates and hooved mammals. The research allows paleontologists to compare fossil sequences from Asia, Europe, and North America during a dramatic period in Earth's history.
Biodiversity hotspots, home to 55% of world's primates and 22% of carnivores, are facing extinction, threatening 343 million years of evolutionary history. Preserving these ecosystems is crucial to maintaining genetic diversity and the survival of species.
Researchers propose a new paradigm that recognizes cooperation and affiliation as primary social behaviors in primates. They found that affiliative behaviors are 10-20 times more common than aggressive ones, devoting only 5-10% of their activity budget to social interactions.
Researchers have found that birds excel in tasks such as combining objects in specific orders, using vocal labels, and learning complex songs. This suggests that the neural machinery involved in these abilities may not be unique to primates, but rather has evolved separately in birds.
Research shows that social hierarchy influences brain function related to cocaine addiction in non-human primates. Dominant monkeys exhibit reduced dopamine levels and lower likelihood of abusing cocaine after being housed in social groups.
A study published in Science found no new neurons in the neocortex of adult monkeys, contradicting previous reports. Researchers used advanced imaging techniques to analyze thousands of cells and conclude that mechanisms other than neurogenesis may be needed to understand brain function.
A 30-million-year-old lemur fossil, Bugtilemur mathesoni, found in Pakistan's Bugti Hills provides a rare glimpse into the evolution of strepsirrhine primates. The discovery sheds new light on the origins of lemurs and their close relatives, the lorises.
Scientists discovered microscopic differences in minicolumns, a group of brain cells involved in language, between humans and non-human primates. These findings suggest that the human brain is organized differently than its primate counterparts, which may explain the complexity of human communication.
A novel drug ALT-711 snips vascular collagen bonds, improving flexibility and reducing systolic blood pressure in older non-human primates. The treatment also increased blood flow through the heart, with effects persisting for over a year after administration.
The extinction of the Miss Waldron's red colobus monkey is a warning sign of an impending ecological disaster in West Africa. The loss of large-bodied monkeys, including primates and forest antelope, threatens the region's biodiversity, highlighting the need for improved law enforcement, protected areas, and conservation education.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School are harnessing the longevity of a herpes simplex virus to develop an HIV vaccine. Their live attenuated vaccine has shown promising results in non-human primates, inducing immunity that lasted for months.
Researchers found that TRAIL causes catastrophic damage to human liver cells, but not to liver cells from mice and nonhuman primates. The study's findings indicate that results of standard preclinical tests may mislead investigators about an agent's safety for use in humans.
A study found that male mangabeys in secondary forests weigh less and are more likely to leave their groups, making them vulnerable to predators. The research suggests that logging may impact the health and behavior of primates in African forests.
The 2000 AAAS Annual Meeting will bring together experts from various fields to share research news and discuss key topics such as nanotechnology, genome strategies, and social behavior among primates and humans. The meeting will also feature a special plenary address by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Researchers propose a novel mechanism for pericentromeric duplication, which has pulled disparate genes to the central regions of hominoid chromosomes. This process may have created new human genes and contributed to evolutionary divergence from Old World primates.
Scientists have found evidence that trichromatic or full color vision originated in prosimians, a group of lemurs, Bush Babies and pottos, rather than in higher primates. The new research pushes the origin of primate color vision back roughly 20 million years to about 55 million years ago.
A 40 million-year-old fossil from Myanmar, Bahinia pondaungensis, sheds light on the origins of anthropoids, a group that includes monkeys and apes. The discovery suggests that these primates may have originated in Asia, rather than Africa, with similarities to tarsiers found in dental anatomy.
New research predicts that up to half of African primate species could go extinct within decades due to habitat loss. The study suggests an 'extinction debt' has been incurred as a result of widespread deforestation in Africa.
The Wake Forest University School of Medicine has been awarded $400,000 for a new MicroPET scanner, which will enable researchers to conduct PET studies in nonhuman primates and rodents. The scanner's higher resolution allows for more detailed brain structure imaging.
A decade-long primate study on diet and aging will be extended with a $6.75 million NIH grant, exploring mechanisms of aging in rhesus macaques. The research aims to answer whether calorie restriction can slow or prevent aging, building on existing studies in rodents.
Chimpanzees demonstrate ability to visually recognize and match portraits of female relatives, potentially aiding kinship decisions and alliances. This skill may have played a role in the evolution of complex societies among primates.
Alan Walker, a distinguished professor at Penn State, has been recognized by the British Royal Society for his groundbreaking work on human origins. He is one of forty-two new Fellows elected this year and was honored for his distinguished contributions to the world's knowledge of human origins.
Researchers have identified the importance of neutralizing antibodies in preventing HIV infection, with studies showing that these antibodies can prevent infection in primates. Additionally, a study found that vaccines must elicit responses in all three major immune cell subsets to be effective, suggesting that broadly based immunity i...
Research by Frans de Waal suggests that chimpanzees resolve conflicts through cooperative behaviors, such as food sharing, which can inform our understanding of human aggression. By studying chimp societies, de Waal's research provides insights into the complex social system and reconciliation mechanisms that repair relationships.
Researchers trained monkeys to discriminate computer-generated images containing different numbers of objects and respond in ascending order. The study suggests that monkeys share human-like capacity for simple arithmetic, potentially tracing human intelligence to animal origins.
Researchers have created transgenic mice that can see over a range of about 360 nanometers, more than humans or old world primates. The mice will be used to investigate scientific questions related to the nervous system's adaptability and how neurons connect to new information.
A Yale study reveals that information related to faces is processed in a specific region of the prefrontal cortex. The research found that neurons responding to faces were clustered in one area, called the inferior prefrontal cortex, and were able to maintain activity even after stimuli disappeared.
Diane Waddle and her team discover a vast collection of fossils, including those of tiny bats, shrews, birds, frogs, adult and juvenile primates, in the Bone Cave in Botswana. The find is significant as it helps fill the gap in the fossil record of Botswana.
A new study reveals that chimpanzees can determine whether their partners are aware of danger, indicating a shared ability to perceive knowledge states and intentions. This suggests a stronger cognitive connection between chimps than previously thought.