Segmental duplications and the evolution of the primate genome

Initial human genome sequence analysis has revealed large segments of nearly identical sequence in particular chromosomal regions. The recent origin of these segments and their abundance (∼5%) has challenged investigators to elucidate their underlying mechanism and role in primate genome evolution. Although the precise fraction is unknown, some of these duplicated segments have recently been shown to be associated with rapid gene innovation and chromosomal rearrangement in the genomes of man and the great apes.