Human-specific genomic signatures of neocortical expansion. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Florio, Marta; Borrell, Víctor; Huttner, Wieland B
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in neurobiology. Volume 42(2017)
• Page Start: 33
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Neurobiology -- Periodicals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.11.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-4388

Abstract

Highlights: Human-specific aspects of cortical expansion. Genomic changes affecting cortical neurogenesis. Human-specific genes affecting cortical progenitors. Abstract : Neocortex evolutionary expansion is primarily due to increased proliferative capacity of neural progenitor cells during cortical development. Exploiting insights into the cell biology of cortical progenitors gained during the past two decades, recent studies uncovered a variety of gene expression differences that underlie differential cortical progenitor behavior. These comprise both, differences between cortical areas that likely provide a molecular basis for cortical folding, and differences across species thought to be responsible for increases in neocortex size. Human-specific signatures have been identified for gene regulatory elements, non-coding gene products, and protein-encoding genes, and have been functionally examined in in vivo as well as novel in vitro model systems.