Knowing that chimpanzees have almost similar genomic DNA sequences as humans do, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology focused at them this time so as to see what causes the difference in the frequency of cancer in them from persons, as per a recent report.

DNA modifications known as methylation, says the team, is however similar, there are only a few particular changes, equivalent to a 4%, in the process in humans and apes. The report published in the American Journal of Human Genetics has unveiled that some chemical properties vary in both the organisms, which ultimately result in a particular disease in a particular mammal only.

Senior researcher Yi Soojin affirms, 'Our results hint that epigenetic divergence - or changes of chemical properties of DNA - may be particularly important for some disease-related phenotypes that are pertinent to modern humans”. Hundreds of genes representing distinct patterns of methylation examined in the analysis have pinpointed the same.

It is being said that the findings would help the researchers in comprehending the effect of environmental exposure on genes of both the species in a better manner. Also, the team’s hopes to see effective treatments for varied specific diseases in humans have been raised after the review.