News November 2, 2017

November 2, 2017
Press release [PDF file / 284 KB]

National Institutes of Natural Sciences Center for Novel Science Initiatives (CNSI) of the Yasuhiro Go Project Associate Professor(National Institutes of Natural Sciences National Institute for Physiological Sciences Heinin) is, this time, Tetsuro Matsuzawa deputy director-special of the Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Research Professor, Research Organization of Information and Systems National genetic Manabu Institute of Fujiyama Asao Project Professor, Gakushuin University of Science Department of the Kiyokazu Agata Professor with (the original Kyoto University Graduate School of Science), et al., chimpanzees parent-child three individuals of the Primate research Institute, Kyoto University (father: Akira, mother: Ai , The son: Ayumu) We determined the whole genome sequence (sequence of genetic information) with high accuracy (elucidation), and clarified the genome change that occurs when the genome of each father and mother is passed on to the child. In this study, we focused on chimpanzees, which are the core of long-term comparative cognitive science research (commonly known as the "eye Project ") at the Primate Research Institute.
Chimpanzees are evolutionarily the closest of ours and are "evolutionary neighbors" sharing 99% of genomic information with us. However, the difference in the remaining 1% genome is thought to be caused by "human beings to humans" and "chimpanzees to chimpanzees". In this research, we have clarified details of how the new mutation, which is the driving force of evolution, occurs in the process of genome transmission from the parent to the child, for the chimpanzee.
In order to clarify the whole genome sequence with high accuracy, an array of 4500-570 billion base pairs (equivalent to the number of characters of about 7000 to 8000 years of newspaper morning edition) corresponding to about 150 times the chimpanzee genome (about 3 billion base pairs) Were made for all three individuals, and the estimation of the new mutation rate in one generation and its pattern were analyzed.
The amount of data obtained in this study is large-scale data that is not unprecedented as an individual genome research including humans. Analysis of these large-scale data revealed that on the germline of chimpanzees, there was an average of 1.48 new single base mutations occurring in 1 generation per 100 base pairs. This value was higher than the value reported in humans (0.96 to 1.2). Also 75% derived from father (sperm). Furthermore, by obtaining a highly accurate sequence, we were able to clarify the dynamics of genome structural change (new gene exchange or new copy number mutation) occurring in one generation with high precision. Since these genome structural changes have not been fully clarified even in the human genome research, the method developed in this research and the results obtained are more dynamic genome change including the structural change of the human genome We could also present a methodology for analyzing.
The results of this research are presented in English scientific journals"Scientific Reports" online versionIt was published in.
At the press conference held together, Goto Yasuhiro Project Associate Professor in this mechanism Center for Novel Science Initiatives (CNSI)"The genome of three individuals with rich chimpanzees with many behavioral and psychological data, what kind of molecule I will try to find out if it is expressed as an individuality with a basis: By obtaining the basic data from this research result, what kind of function will the genome difference actually be expressed in the future? "I want to connect to research," commented to the question and answer from the reporter.