Hominin evolution was caused by introgression from Gorilla

TL;DR

This paper presents evidence that introgression from gorillas played a crucial role in hominin evolution, influencing the divergence of major lineages such as Pan-Homo and the emergence of Australopithecus and Paranthropus.

Contribution

It provides conclusive genetic and fossil evidence that gorilla introgression caused key speciation events in hominin evolution.

Findings

Gorilla genome shows lineage sorting with humans and chimpanzees.

A NUMT on chromosome 5 diverged at the Pan-Homo split.

Fossil evidence of Paranthropus deyiremeda supports early hominin diversification.

Abstract

The discovery of Paranthropus deyiremeda in 3.3-3.5 million year old fossil sites in Afar, together with 30% of the gorilla genome showing lineage sorting between humans and chimpanzees, and a NUMT ("nuclear mitochondrial DNA segment") on chromosome 5 that is shared by both gorillas, humans and chimpanzees, and shown to have diverged at the time of the Pan-Homo split rather than the Gorilla/Pan-Homo split, provides conclusive evidence that introgression from the gorilla lineage caused the Pan-Homo split, and the speciation of both the Australopithecus lineage and the Paranthropus lineage.