Genetic links between brain development and brain evolution
Nature Reviews GeneticsPublished 10 June 2005
Sandra L. Gilbert, William B. Dobyns, Bruce T. Lahn
Citations172
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score16.36
SNIP6.73
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TL;DR
It is proposed that genes that regulate brain size during development, such as microcephaly genes, are chief contributors in driving the evolutionary enlargement of the human brain.
Abstract
The most defining biological attribute of Homo sapiens is its enormous brain size and accompanying cognitive prowess. How this was achieved by means of genetic changes over the course of human evolution has fascinated biologists and the general public alike. Recent studies have shown that genes controlling brain development - notably those implicated in microcephaly (a congenital defect that is characterized by severely reduced brain size) - are favoured targets of natural selection during human evolution. We propose that genes that regulate brain size during development, such as microcephaly genes, are chief contributors in driving the evolutionary enlargement of the human brain. Based on the synthesis of recent studies, we propose a general methodological template for the genetic analysis of human evolution.
Keywords
PsychologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
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The Genetics of Neurological Disorders
70 Citations1997M Baraitser
Cranial nerves cerebral and vertebral malformations disorders of higher cerebral function disorders associated with retinitis pigmentosa dementia epilepsy myoclonic epilepsy vascular lesions cerebral tumours neurocutaneous malformation cerebellar syndromes hereditary neuropathies anterior horn cell disease motor neuron disease spastic paraplegia/HSP basal ganglia disease muscular disorders multiple sclerosis degenerative illnesses of childhood.
Molecular Biology and EvolutionPositive Selection During the Diversification of Class I Vomeronasal Receptor-like (V1RL) Genes, Putative Pheromone Receptor Genes, in Human and Primate Evolution
61 Citations2003Nicholas I. Mundy
The finding of positive selection on V 1RL genes during primate evolution provides indirect support for the hypothesis that V1RL genes have a function in species-specific pheromone detection in primates.
American Journal of Medical GeneticsMicrocephaly: Genetic counselling and antenatal diagnosis after the birth of an affected child
59 Citations1987John Tolmie, M. B. McNay +5 more
The clinical and genetic details of a series of microcephalic patients who were referred to the Genetic Counselling Service for the West of Scotland are described, highlighting the contribution of autosomal recessive inheritance of microcephaly amongst patients of the service.
PubMedGenetic study of microcephaly based on Japanese material.
57 Citations1955Taku Komai, Ken'ichi Kishimoto +1 more
The authors have incorporated data obtained by other Japanese investigators, whenever such data were accompanied by sufficient and reliable information relative to patients and their parents and sibs, and it has enabled them to deduce some genetic conclusions from its study.
Medical HypothesesPrimate encephalization and intelligence
56 Citations2002Marcel F. Williams
Results suggest that the most accurate means for quantifying the encephalization of humans and other adult primate species requires the use of Lapicque's universal exponent of 0.28 in Snell's equation of simple allometry.
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