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Friday, February 27th, 2015

Gene that makes human brain unique identified by scientists

Author:     Ian Sample
Source:     The Guardian (U.K.)
Publication Date:     Thursday 26 February 2015 14.00 EST
 Link: Gene that makes human brain unique identified by scientists
Stephan:   Here is the latest in genetic research. This is another trend that is going to be transformative, but in what way is not clear yet. I am following this closely to see whether this trend veers into it shadow. How much human DNA is required to make one a human? Its the Planet of the Apes.
Mouse cerebral cortex (above): mouse embryos injected with the gene identified by scientist as key to human cognitive faculties grew larger brain regions and some developed the crinkled brain surface that humans have. Credit: Marta Florio and Wieland B. Huttner, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics

Mouse cerebral cortex (above): mouse embryos injected with the gene identified by scientist as key to human cognitive faculties grew larger brain regions and some developed the crinkled brain surface that humans have.
Credit: Marta Florio and Wieland B. Huttner, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics

A strand of DNA that lies at the heart of what makes humans unique in the animal kingdom has been identified by researchers in Germany.

Scientists in Dresden found a gene that drives the expansion of the human brain and helps to make it the most complex structure in the universe.

Researchers believe the gene plays a pivotal role in human cognition by ramping up dramatically the number of neurons […]

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