Scientists uncover ancient gene's role in brain folding
Chinese researchers have identified that the ancient gene CCNB1IP1 plays a critical role in the evolution of brain folding in primates. The study suggests that increased expression of this gene correlates with the complexity of the cerebral cortex across different species.
Why it matters
This discovery challenges the traditional view that brain evolution is driven only by new genes, providing a deeper understanding of human cognitive development.
A group of Chinese scientists has uncovered the mystery behind how an ancient gene regulates the development of brain folds, shedding new light on the evolution of the human brain. The findings were recently published in Nature Genetics.
The human brain is covered with intricate wrinkles and grooves, which constitute one of the important biological foundations for the emergence of advanced human cognitive functions. The traditional view holds that the expansion of the primate cerebral cortex was primarily driven by newly evolved genes.
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However, a research team led by Shi Lei, a researcher from the Kunming Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, proposed an alternative possibility: certain ancient and highly conserved genes could also play a key role in human brain evolution by reshaping their expression levels through changes in regulatory elements.
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