A western lowland gorilla has 24 pairs of chromosomes.
That gives the gorilla a diploid chromosome number of 48. Humans have 23 pairs, or 46 chromosomes, so chromosome counts are not identical even though gorillas and humans are closely related great apes.
The gorilla genome contains many similarities to the genomes of humans and other primates. Scientists compare these genomes to study evolution, inherited disease and the biological relationships among living apes. Chromosome number alone does not measure intelligence or evolutionary advancement.
Western lowland gorillas are the smallest of the four recognised gorilla subspecies, but they are still powerful, large-bodied forest animals. Habitat loss, hunting and disease have contributed to their conservation problems. Genetic research is also important for managing captive populations and maintaining diversity.