A new genetics tool could help conservationists save endangered chimpanzees from extinction. Researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz, have developed the tool to help conservationists identify the genetic diversity of chimps throughout the species’ range. The tool can quickly and accurately assess the genetic diversity of wild chimpanzee populations, which is essential for conservation management. The new tool could help conservationists identify genetically distinct populations that are most in need of protection and devise strategies to conserve them. It could also offer insights into the evolutionary history of chimpanzees, and provide a baseline for researchers to track changes in the population over time.

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source: Phys.org