TECHNICAL NOTE - CHROMOSOMAL AND MTDNA ANALYSIS OF OLIVER

Oliver is an African ape whose species identity has been debated in th e popular media and by various scientists since the early 1970s. Altho ugh decisive morphological data has never been adduced on Oliver, many reports indicated that Oliver was morphologically unusual for a chimp anzee, particularly in his habitual bipedal posture. In addition, his diploid chromosome number was reported to be inconsistent with either human or chimpanzee, but instead intermediate between those species. W e performed standard chromosomal studies which demonstrated that Olive r had the diploid number expected for a chimpanzee (2N = 48) and that the banding patterns of his chromosomes were typical for a chimpanzee and different from both humans and bonobos. We also sequenced a 312 bp region of his mitochondrial DNA D-loop region. Results indicated a hi gh sequence homology to the Central African variety of chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes troglodytes. The highest percent homology was observed wi th a previously characterized specimen from Gabon, strongly suggesting that Oliver originated from this region. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.