CANADA: A single genetic marker has been discovered, unique to humanoid primates like Neanderthals and modern humans that may have triggered rapid increases in the size of the human brain.
The newly discovered gene, which isn’t present in our simian ancestors such as chimpanzees, seems to encourage the region of the brain known as the neocortex to produce larger numbers of neurons. With these neurons being the building blocks the brain needs to conduct the kinds of complex business brains need to undertake, the presence of the gene in early humanoid ancestors could have easily been the impetus for advanced cognition like tool-making, language, and other developments.
Marta Florio from the Max Planck Institute, the lead author of the study that discovered the new gene, said that she was truly impressed how one seemingly tiny gene could have had such a huge impact on stem cell phenotypes that led to the neocortex expanding. However, Florio was quick to say that while the gene is definitely linked to increased neuron growth, there’s always the possibility that there were many genes working in tandem to turn our primate brains into the ones we have today.
The doctoral student explained that the neocortex is a particularly fascinating region of the brain because it’s considered to be the root of all cognitive skills. This includes logical thought processes, language, and the ability create complex hierarchical structures like cultures and religions. Adaptations like tool use in human ancestors Homo erectus and Australopithecus afarensis coincides with neocortex growth, with brains growing from around 30 cubic inches in size to around 85 cubic inches today. H. erectus alone doubled his brain size from A. afarensis over just 1.8 million years, with the majority of the growth occurring in the neocortex, according to scientists.
The research indicates that this particular gene developed well after chimpanzees split off from the primate evolution path, which is why anyone interested in turing the Earth into a real-world Planet of the Apes will likely have their work cut out of them unless they can do some genetic modification.
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