FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·September 13, 2022·3 min readThe Gene to Which We Owe Our Big BrainThe ARHGAP11B gene played a critical role in the development of the human neocortex during evolution.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·September 4, 2020·5 min readThe Length of the Neurogenic Period Is a Key Determinant for Brain SizeDuring pregnancy, the maternal environment has a dominant influence on the length of the neurogenic period and the number of upper-layer neurons produced. The study reveals a link between the maternal environment and embryonic cortical neurogenesis in-vitro.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·January 7, 2020·3 min readCancer-like metabolism makes brain growThe ARHGAP11B protein located in mitochondria induces a metabolic pathway, similar to the characteristics of cancer cells, in brain stem cells, resulting in brain development.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·January 8, 2019·4 min readBuilding a Bigger BrainARHGAP11B, a gene unique to humans and active in the cerebral cortex, causes enlargement of the ferret neocortex when introduced during development.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·December 9, 2016·5 min readA Tiny Change With Considerable ConsequencesResearchers report the expansion of the human neocortex is likely due to a single base pair genetic substitution.Read More
FeaturedGenetics·February 27, 2015·3 min readA Gene for Brain SizeResearchers discover a specific gene only found in humans, Neanderthals and Denisova-Humans which trigger brain stem cells to form a bigger pool of stem cells.Read More