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'Master Gene' Makes Mouse Brain Look More Human

Posted by Soulskill on from the rats-of-nimh-become-real dept.

sciencehabit writes "Researchers have found a genetic mutation that causes mammalian neural tissue to expand and fold. When they mutated this gene in mice, the rodents developed brains that look more like ours (abstract). The discovery may help explain why humans evolved more elaborate brains than mice, and it could suggest ways to treat disorders such as autism and epilepsy that arise from abnormal neural development. The findings go against a common conception that 'dumber species will have different genes' for brain development than more intelligent species, Borrell says. He adds that the mechanism could help explain how New World monkeys, with their small, smooth brains, could have evolved from an ancestor with a bigger and more folded brain."

6 of 121 comments (clear)

  1. Disappointed. by Dahamma · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was somehow hoping this study was done at NIMH.

    1. Re:Disappointed. by fractoid · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Perfect. :) The bit I don't get is how "a genetic mutation that causes mammalian neural tissue to expand and fold" disproves "'dumber species will have different genes'? Since, well, it's a gene that's different. Also, conflating folding of the neural tissues with intelligence (rather than simply viewing it as a necessary precursor) sounds like the modern version of "men are more intelligent than women because their brains weigh more."

      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
  2. Knowledge is worth pursuing by Dorianny · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I wish journalists would stop including the mandatory bit about how this might lead to such and such practical applications when reporting on scientific discoveries. Knowledge is worth pursuing even if it doesn't lead to any practical applications.

  3. New World monkeys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    No need for name calling. Treat our American friends with respect, please.

  4. Re:Why didn't they evolve a "better" brain? Easy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ... Mostly because we are, essentially speaking, a big evolutionary mistake.

    BULLSHIT

    We shouldn't exist anymore, honestly. We're terrible at staying alive.

    Must be why there are 6+ BILLION humans spread over the ENTIRE FUCKING PLANET

    We can't run fast,

    Wrong. There aren't all that many land animals that can cover long distances faster than humans.

    we're not strong,

    Wrong. Humans are stronger than wolves. A good-sized wolf can't THROW a human. Yet any decently-strong human can actually pick up and throw a full-grown wolf.

    Of course, getting bit might be a problem, but that can be avoided.

    we can't hide easily,

    Wrong.

    we have no fur or feathers to keep us warm (which means we have to burn a LOT of calories just to heat up the air around us in cold periods!)...

    Irrelevant. Besides, neither do a lot of other large mammals.

    We are, essentially, an evolutionary mistake. ...

    Oxymoron at best. Meaningless babble at worst.

    Evolution makes no "mistakes" - evolution is not directed, it has no goal.

  5. Re:Why didn't they evolve a "better" brain? Easy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ... We can't run fast, we're not strong, we can't hide easily, we have no fur or feathers to keep us warm (which means we have to burn a LOT of calories just to heat up the air around us in cold periods!)... We are, essentially, an evolutionary mistake. ...

    Actually we are able to long distance run better than any other animal on earth, so a good hunting strategy for humans is to just run after animals until they are too tired. We have a greater amount of throwing strength than any other animal, which makes throwing rocks a valid hunting strategy. Our combined abilities to climb, swim, and sprint allow us to escape predators, most of which can only do one or two of those three. Even if we didn't have our brainpower, we would be successful mid-tier predators and scavengers in temperate climates. The Homo genetic line didn't one day become super-geniuses compared to other animals. The extra brain power only allowed us to go from a niche predator to an apex predator.