More sophisticated wiring, not just bigger brain, helped humans evolve beyond chimps, geneticists find
Wednesday, August 22, 2012 - 12:31
in Biology & Nature
Human and chimp brains look anatomically similar because both evolved from the same ancestor millions of years ago. But where does the chimp brain end and the human brain begin? A new study pinpoints uniquely human patterns of gene activity in the brain that could shed light on how we evolved differently than our closest relative. These genes' identification could improve understanding of human brain diseases like autism and schizophrenia, as well as learning disorders and addictions.