Did early humans go ape for chimps?

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2006

PARIS (AFP) — Our early ancestors interbred with chimpanzees after the two species drew apart millions of years ago, a paper suggests.

The provocative idea is sketched by US genome experts, who have discovered that hominids and chimps diverged far more recently -- and over a much longer timescale -- than anyone had thought.

During this time, the authors theorise, the two primates were rather more than kissing cousins: they had sex, swapping genes before making a final separation.

"The (...) analysis revealed big surprises, with major implications for human evolution," says co-author Eric Lander, director of the Broad Institute of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Until now, the belief was that humans and chimpanzees shared...