SRGAP2B and SRGAP2C tagged posts

Scientists discover Unexpected Link between Genes involved in Human Brain Evolution and Developmental Disorders

Scientists discover unexpected link between genes involved in human brain evolution and developmental disorders
A dendrite—an extension of a neuron—from a 12-month-old human cerebral cortex neuron, grown from human stem cells and transplanted into a mouse cerebral cortex. Two human-specific genes, SRGAP2B and SRGAP2C, were turned off, causing the neuron’s synapses to mature faster. The number of small protrusions on the dendrite, called dendritic spines, resembles what is typically seen in a five to ten-year-old child. Credit: Baptiste Libé-Philippot, 2024

The human brain’s remarkably prolonged development is unique among mammals and is thought to contribute to our advanced learning abilities. Disruptions in this process may explain certain neurodevelopmental diseases.

Now, a team of researchers led by Prof...

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