2025 genomic study of primates: another failure
Roos et al 2025 published
a genomic study of primates (Fig 1). They wrote, “In this Review, we provide an overview of knowledge regarding genetic diversity and the genetics of adaptive evolution across this order.”
This study also highlights several failures baked into genomic research.
Figure 1. From Roos et al 2025, their genomic study of primates. In includes no fossil taxa and no gradual evolution from stage to stage is shown for the major clades, only the minor interrelationships.
” data-medium-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/genomic_primates588.gif?w=300″ data-large-file=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/genomic_primates588.gif?w=584″ class=”size-full wp-image-92200″ src=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/genomic_primates588.gif” alt=”Figure 1. From Roos et al 2025, their genomic study of primates. In includes no fossil taxa and no gradual evolution from stage to stage is shown for the major clades, only the minor interrelationships. ” width=”584″ height=”563″ srcset=”https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/genomic_primates588.gif?w=584&h=563 584w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/genomic_primates588.gif?w=150&h=145 150w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/genomic_primates588.gif?w=300&h=289 300w, https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/genomic_primates588.gif 588w” sizes=”(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px” />
Figure 1. From Roos et al 2025, their genomic study of primates. In includes no fossil taxa and no gradual evolution from stage to stage is shown for the major clades, only the minor interrelationships.
The Roos et al genomic study
(Fig 1) includes no fossil taxa and demonstrates no gradual evolution from stage to stage for the major clades (see Fig 2), only the minor derived interrelationships. According to Roos et al lemurs split from all other primates at their origin, so do tarsiers, so do Old World monkeys + New World monkeys.
230 citations did not help this attempt, which was doomed from the start because all genomic studies in deep time suffer from the exclusion of deep time fossils.
By contrast
the large reptile tree (LRT, 2338 taxa, subset Fig 2), a phenomic = trait-based study that includes fossils, recovers a gradual evolution of primates from their division from outgroups (back to Ediacaran worms) to their gradual accumulation of traits and ultimate diversity, including bats and colugos, which were extant taxa omitted by Roos et al.
The Roos et al study suffered from taxon exclusion – big time.
And that hobbled their data collection, results and presentation.
No problem, though, for the academics, editors and referees who gave this manuscript the green light.
Figure 2. Subset of the LRT focusing on Primates. Here all higher primates are derived from radiating lemurs and adapids. So are bats and colugos. The Roos et al study fails to recover the same tree. And note where gibbons fall vis a vis humans. Fossils should not be omitted.
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Figure 2. Subset of the LRT focusing on Primates. Here all higher primates are derived from radiating lemurs and adapids. So are bats and colugos. The Roos et al study fails to recover the same tree. And note where gibbons fall vis a vis humans. Fossils should not be omitted. Clade colors match those in figure 1.
Why would you omit perfectly good taxa
like fossils? Why would you present a study that failed to show how lemurs are related to tarsiers to Old World monkeys to New World monkeys + apes (Fig 2). At least this study showed that apes are related to Old World monkeys… but to which ones? Roos et al don’t say. The LRT recovers a candidate (Fig 2) even if the candidate list is short.
The Roos et al results don’t show that baboons are robust lemurs.
That Old World monkeys are derived from Old World baboons. That New World monkeys are derived from adapdis. So are colugos. So are bats. That humans are derived from gibbons, not gorillas.
The next time your professor suggests running a genomic test,
be the one who raises a hand to object. Suggest a trait study that includes fossil taxa.
You’ll learn more by not omitting taxa and the pertinent data therein.
References
Roos C et al (more than a dozen co-auithors) 2025. Genomic basis of non-human-primate diversity and adaptation. Nature Reviews biodiversity. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44358-025-00039-8
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2025/04/02/2025-genomic-study-of-primates-another-failure/
