Feature Genetics

Jumping genes play a big role in what makes us human

Transposons fill huge chunks of our genetic blueprint

chimpanzee and human

THE DIFFERENCE  Humans and chimpanzees are easy to tell apart, even though they share a primate ancestor. Jumping genes helped sculpt their distinctions.

DIAMOND IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY/ISTOCKPHOTO; SRBOZUK/ISTOCKPHOTO

By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

Face-to-face, a human and a chimpanzee are easy to tell apart. The two species share a common primate ancestor, but over millions of years, their characteristics have morphed into easily distinguishable features.