Pairwise mtDNA distances among Great Ape mitochondrial DNA genomes
Observed counts
of distances over the 15,447 bp coding region are given
below the diagonal (lower left matrix). Notice the scale
of DNA differences across species, genera, and families.
The San and SMC lineages (L2 & U, respectively) are
representative of the two most distinctive lineages in
Homo sapiens. The Neanderthal lineage is equally
differentiated from both. Chimpanzees (Pan
troglodytes) are equally divergent from all Homo
lineages, and Gorillas (G. gorilla) are equally
different from Pan and Homo. Genetic
divergences reflects time of separation, rather than
perceived organismal differentiation.
Data after SMC Flynn & SM Carr (2015); Text material © 2024 by Steven M. Carr