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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."

3 of 121 comments (clear)

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

    I was somehow hoping this study was done at NIMH.

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

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

  3. 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.