Mitochondrial 16S rRNA Sequence Diversity of Hominoids

We determined nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (about 1.6 kb) for 35 chimpanzee, 13 bonobo, 10 gorilla, 16 orangutan, and 23 gibbon individuals. We compared those data with published sequences and estimated nucleotide diversity for each species. All the ape species showed higher diversity than human. We also constructed phylogenetic trees and networks. The two orangutan subspecies were clearly separated from each other, and Sumatran orangutans showed much higher nucleotide diversity than Bornean orangutans. Some gibbon species did not form monophyletic clusters, and variation within species was not much different from that among species in the subgenus Hylobates.