Hominoid cytogenetics and evolution

Abstract

Much of the literature on the chromosomes of the Hominoidea exists in virtual isolation from both evolutionary theory and physical anthropology. Several unjustified speculations about hominoid affinities in the literature of cytogenetics may be attributed to the effects of this isolation. In this paper, the literature of comparative hominoid cytogenetics is reviewed, and that on chromosomal band patterns and repetitive DNA distributions relative to current evolutionary theory is discussed. These data are critically analyzed and shown to be more consistent with an orthodox hominoid phylogeny than with heterodox phylogenies. Rates and modes of karyotypic evolution are also discussed in an attempt to begin to assimilate the study of hominoid chromosomes within the framework of physical anthropology. Copyright © 1983 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company