Gene regulatory changes shaped human skeleton, study finds
Yan et al. mapped genetic variants, genes and pathways that set the human skeleton apart from chimpanzees and bonobos, as well as gorillas. The work appeared in Nature in 2026 and highlights gene‑regulatory changes as the driver of human‑specific skeletal features. The authors note that variants in genes that encode extracellular‑matrix proteins may have enabled these adaptations. A companion Nature News and Views piece praised the comprehensive genomics toolkit used for the mapping.
Evolutionary biologists and paleoanthropologists gain candidate genes for explaining how the human skeleton diverged from other great apes over time.
Written by the Genomes desk from the primary source cited and linked above and checked against it. Research use only; not medical advice. Corrections: [email protected].