A new study published in Nature reveals that inserting a unique human DNA snippet into mice leads to the growth of larger brains. The DNA functions as a regulatory switch, enhancing the production of neural cells. This research offers deeper insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying human brain evolution compared to previous investigations. The role of specific genetic segments called human accelerated regions (HARs) in brain development remains a focal point, with the study particularly examining the impact of the HARE5 segment on the expression of the Fzd8 gene, aiding neuronal growth.
This study goes deeper than previous work that attempted to unpick the genetic mechanisms behind human brain development, says Katherine Pollard, a bioinformatics researcher.
We still do not have a definitive answer to how the human brain has tripled in size since our split from chimpanzees during evolution, says Gabriel Santpere Baró.
Previous studies have hinted that human accelerated regions (HARs) could be key contributors to brain development and size, says study co-author Debra Silver.
To build a clearer picture, Silver and her colleagues zoomed in on one HAR, called HARE5, (...) that boost the expression of the Fzd8 gene.
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