ASU professor takes part in largest chimpanzee genetic study

Chimpanzees are the closest animal relatives to humans, sharing 98% of our DNA. But they are endangered, with falling populations caused by deforestation, illness and hunting.

A new international paper showing methods for studying these endangered animals without posing additional risk.

The crew collected DNA samples from the fecal matter of more than 800 chimps across Africa.

“You can't get the chimps to spit in a tube and send it off to 23 and Me," said Arizona State University professor and study co-author Kevin Langergraber.

He says the team found genetic differences among the apes based on their environment, like rainforest versus savannah.

That information is crucial for conservation. Relocating a chimp can risk exposure to diseases where the animal might not have adapted protections.

"Diseases that we have developmentally acquired and genetically inquired immunity towards like a common cold doesn't make us very sick, can go through a chimp population and decimate them because they don't have those same immune protections," he said.

Langergraber said the DNA collection method can counter those risks.

“Like in other animals, if this were a baboon study, people would have no problems with darting them, knocking them out and drawing blood samples. For ethical logistical reasons, you're not going to do that in an endangered species like chimps," Langergraber said.

The study was published in the journal Science.