Gorilla genomes are particularly important for study because they are so closely related to human genes. A study published in the journal Science last Thursday revealed that gorillas and humans are more closely-related species than was previously thought. A new and more complete genome sequencing for a gorilla named Sue confirmed that there is a mere 1.6 percent divergence between gorilla and human genes. The closest human relatives in the great apes family are chimps and bonobos, which tie for first with a divergence of only 1.2 percent. The study involved geneticists at the University of Washington's Eichler lab, who produced a nearly complete gorilla genome. Previous gorilla genome sequencing contained more than 400,000 gaps. A technique known as long-read sequencing technology allowed the Eichler researchers to close more than 90 percent of those gaps. The new genome is known as Susie3, and it has already given some surprising insight into lowland gorillas' evolutionary history.