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[gregory nahas <lettherebemonkeys AT yahoo.com>]

Brain proteins make humans and chimps different 

Scientists say the pattern of genes and the proteins
they produce in the brain is what makes humans and
chimps different.

Otherwise, there is little to distinguish us from our
closest animal cousins, according to the findings
reported in the journal Science.

Humans and chimps share 98.7% of their genes. It is in
their brains, however, where the crucial 1.3%
difference is most strikingly evident, an
international team of researchers has found.

Scientists hope the research will help them find out
why humans and chimpanzees respond to certain
diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Aids, so
differently.

The joint European-US team first compared the protein
production line in blood and liver samples in humans,
chimps and macaque monkeys.

As expected, they found that, when compared this way,
humans and chimps were more closely related than
chimps and macaques.

When, however, the brains of all three were studied,
gene expression in humans was found to be very
different from that in chimpanzees. When it came to
the brain, chimps and macaques were more similar than
chimps and humans.

The human brain gene factory appeared to have
accumulated evolutionary changes five times faster
than the chimpanzee's.

The differences were more a matter of quantity rather
than quality, said the researchers. Amounts of genes
and proteins differed rather than the structure of the
DNA and protein molecules.

Dr Ajit Varki, professor of medicine and cellular and
molecular medicine at the University of California at
San Diego, who contributed to the research, said:
"With an understanding of the differences between
humans and chimpanzees, we may be able to learn more
about the genetics underlying diseases that seem to
harm humans but not chimpanzees."
http://www.ananova.com/yournews/story/sm_564642.html



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