'Switches' That Shaped The Evolution Of The Human Brain Mapped

Sunday, March 8, 2015 - 13:30 in Biology & Nature

Thousands of genetic "dimmer" switches, regions of DNA known as regulatory elements, were turned up high during human evolution in the developing cerebral cortex, according to new research from the Yale School of Medicine. Unlike in rhesus monkeys and mice, these switches show increased activity in humans, where they may drive the expression of genes in the cerebral cortex, the region of the brain that is involved in conscious thought and language. This difference may explain why the structure and function of that part of the brain is so unique in humans compared to other mammals. The research, led by James P. Noonan, Steven K. Reilly, and Jun Yin, is published March 6 in the journal Science. read more

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