The past decade has seen substantial advances in comparative primate genomics, driven mostly by improvements in technology and reductions in cost. We now have access to high quality reference genome assemblies for dozens of species and expect to have assemblies for every genus of primates soon. These advances now make it feasible to study genetic variation within and between primate species at a level and scope inconceivable just a short time ago. In this presentation, I will summarize the work my laboratory and our collaborators are doing to explore genetic diversity across all branches of the primate evolutionary tree and to deeply investigate genetic features and evolutionary processes within macaques, baboons and other species. Working with our large international consortium of researchers, we have recently completed the sequencing of more than 2700 nonhuman primate individuals (mostly sampled in the wild or wild-born) from more than 300 species. This wealth of new genomic information provides remarkable insights into primate adaptation, mechanisms of speciation, implications for conservation and other fundamental aspects of primate biology.
