Researcher David Kingsley and his colleagues have reported that losing chunks of DNA could have enabled humans to develop larger brains and some other distinctive traits. Instead of focusing on genes that make humans unique, this new study looks for genes that were redacted in humans. Humans lack about 510 chunks of DNA; however macaques, chimps, and mice seem to share these chunks of DNA. Most of these DNA chunks are also missing from Neanderthals, which were lost around 500,000 to 6 million years ago. Some scientists have suggested the similar genes between humans and chimps may be used for different ways of development; which can explain the physical and behavioral differences between them. David Haussler, an investigator, describes a function in which one piece of a gene enhances facial hair sensory whiskers. Humans don't have this enhancer which is why they don't have these characteristics.
This experiment is an example of discovery science because the researchers observed the similarities between humans and chimps, and later discovered why they were similar and why they were different by coming to specific conclusions.This research is important to humans because it explains our development in evolution, and how and why we are different from chimps.
Author: Tiny Hesman Saey
Title: Defining humans by what's lacking
Journal: Science News
Date Published: April 9, 2011
Page: 15
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