Yeping Han

Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang Colloge of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 3   doi: 10.5376/ijmeb.2024.14.0014
Received: 21 Apr., 2024    Accepted: 23 May, 2024    Published: 30 May, 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Han Y.P., 2024, Population genomics of primates: diversity, structure, and evolutionary dynamics, International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 14(3): 108-119 (doi: 10.5376/ijmeb.2024.14.0014)

This study synthesizes current research to provide a comprehensive understanding of genetic diversity, population structure, and evolutionary dynamics within and between primate species. Advances in genomic technologies, such as high-throughput sequencing and comparative genomics, have unveiled significant genetic variation across various primate species, including endangered ones like the black and white ruffed lemur and Coquerel’s sifaka. Despite their endangered status, these species exhibit high levels of genetic diversity, underscoring the importance of genomic data in conservation efforts. Key findings from phylogenomic studies emphasize the need to consider ancestral population variation when interpreting sequence divergence and evolutionary histories. Genomic data have illuminated long-term evolutionary processes and population dynamics that are otherwise difficult to observe, providing critical insights into gene regulatory evolution and phenotypic diversity across primates. Unique insights from case studies, particularly on African great apes, highlight complex demographic histories, including ancient admixture events, and significant genetic differentiation among populations. These studies underscore the intricate interplay between gene flow, selection, and genetic drift in shaping primate genomes. This study highlights the crucial role of population genomics in elucidating the evolutionary mechanisms driving primate diversity and adaptation, offering valuable perspectives for both evolutionary biology and conservation strategies.

Primates; Genetic diversity; Population structure; Evolutionary dynamics; Conservation genomics