Humans
We now have full genome sequences for six species of apes, helping us to pin down our last common ancestor – and potentially changing how we think of the earliest hominins
What are we learning from the genomes of chimps and other apes?
S.Tuengler/inafrica.de/Alamy
This is an extract from Our Human Story, our newsletter about the revolution in archaeology. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every month.
One of the most vexing unsolved problems in human evolution is its starting point – about which we know almost nothing.
I’m referring to the last common ancestor that we share with chimpanzees and bonobos, our closest living relatives. This mystery ape lived millions of years ago; at some point, the population split into two. One group gave rise to modern-day chimps…
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
