Genetic analysis of hominid behaviour

• Main Author: Wong, Simon Daniel Cheng Ji
• Other Authors: Shu Jian Jun
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Science::Biological sciences::Molecular biology; Engineering::Mathematics and analysis
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/167249
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The competitive exclusion principle theory states that when two species live in the same environment, and compete over similar resources, only one species will be able to survive. However, after further examination, the situation in nature appears to be vastly different, with many different species in the same environment thriving and co-existing together. To achieve co-existence, some species appear to adapt to their environment, sometimes seek alternative resources and employ different behaviour to survive. To understand this phenomenon, analysis of behavioural differences between the species will be carried out. The subject species to be examined will be the Hominid, who despite their behavioural differences, have remarkably similar genetics due to them sharing a common evolutionary root, having the same ancestors. This is an intriguing prospect as behaviour has been shown to be related to the genetics of animals and species, and in this case, the subjects, the Hominid or great apes as well. Subsequently, this study aims to identify the genetic data that could possibly be the reason behind their behavioural differences. To understand this genetic data, retrieval of genetic data, or in specific, X and Y chromosomes of the subjects in question will be required. This is due to the X and Y chromosomes being the determinant for gender, which plays a substantial part for social behaviour. With this data, visualisation of the sequences will be done via the utilisation of phylogenetic trees and subsequently, employment of visualisation software to analyse the genetic data. Research into the behaviour of these species will be carried out. Subsequently, the genetic differences will be examined and compared between the different species. Hence, the study results show that perhaps certain genetics, although just a small part, which have changed over the time due to the evolution of these species genetics, could possibly be the reason behind the differing behaviour that is exhibited by each of the species that are being examined in this study.