anthonyn

Many of the genes that cause diseases in humans can be found in macaque monkeys but not in our nearest relative, the chimpanzee, researchers reported on Thursday in a study that sheds more light on what makes humans different.

A team of more than 170 scientists from around the world has sequenced the genome – the entire genetic map – of the rhesus macaque, a monkey heavily used by medical researchers. They can use this information to “triangulate” their way through the genomes of primates – the family of mammals that includes humans, great apes and monkeys.

Also, macaques appear to have been exposed to more retroviruses that humans have. Retroviruses include the AIDS virus, and can make themselves a permanent part of an animals DNA . This is important because macaques are widely used for testing AIDS vaccines.