By Karina Shah
At five weeks old, human brain organoids (left) are far bigger than those from a gorilla (top right) and a chimpanzee (bottom right)
S.Benito-Kwiecinski/MRC LMB/Cell
Miniature brains of humans, gorillas and chimpanzees developed in the lab have shown how our brains grow much larger than those of other apes.
At birth, our brains have around three times as many neurons as those of newborn chimpanzees and gorillas, despite having similar gestation periods. To understand why, Madeline Lancaster and her colleagues at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, grew miniature brain organoids to mimic early brain development in humans, gorillas and chimpanzees.
Advertisement
First, they collected adult cells from the three species and genetically reprogrammed them to resemble cells found in an early embryo these are called induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. You sort of trick them into thinking theyre embryonic again, says Lancaster.
The team then grew brain organoids using these iPS cells.Similar to actual brains, the human miniature brains grew larger than the organoids of gorillas and chimpanzees as early as two days in. By five weeks, the human brain organoids were around twice as large as the other ape brain organoids, measuring around four millimetres across, says Lancaster.
This early stage of development is usually very inaccessible, says Lancaster. Its a kind of black box in human biology. We know very little about it in gorillas and chimpanzees too. Apes are an endangered species, so ethically, we wouldnt want to do experiments at this stage. We usually dont even know the gorilla is pregnant this early on.
The researchers then analysed genes in the brain organoids and found differences in the expression of a gene called ZEB2, with the gorilla and chimpanzee brain organoids turning it on earlier than the human organoids.
The ZEB2 gene controls cell shape and motility. Essentially, when this gene is switched on, the cells are less sticky and can leave and go elsewhere, says Lancaster. By delaying the genes activation, early human brain cells are able to stick together and multiply for longer before specialising into mature nerve cells, she says.
To make sure ZEB2 was responsible, the team switched the gene on earlier in the human organoids and later in the gorilla organoids. The [human] brain organoids started to look like the ape cells and, vice versa, the gorilla cells actually ended up looking like the human cells, says Lancaster.
Journal reference: Cell, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.02.050
Sign up for Wild Wild Life, a free monthly newsletter celebrating the diversity and science of animals, plants and Earths other weird and wonderful inhabitants
Original post:
Mini-brains show why human brains grow larger than those of other apes - New Scientist News
- Standardized production of hPSC-derived cardiomyocyte aggregates in stirred spinner flasks - Nature.com - March 28th, 2024
- Synthetic Circuits Reveal the Key to Rewinding the Cellular Clock - The Scientist - March 13th, 2024
- synNotch-programmed iPSC-derived NK cells usurp TIGIT and CD73 activities for glioblastoma therapy - Nature.com - March 3rd, 2024
- Breaking through new research barriers with iPSC technology - News-Medical.Net - February 15th, 2024
- Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre partners with Rege Nephro and Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and ... - Abu Dhabi Media Office - January 12th, 2024
- Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center partners with Japan-based Kyoto University and Rege Nephro - ZAWYA - January 12th, 2024
- Efficient and reproducible generation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived expandable liver organoids for ... - Nature.com - December 23rd, 2023
- Mechanisms, pathways and strategies for rejuvenation through epigenetic reprogramming - Nature.com - December 15th, 2023
- Shinobi Therapeutics Launches with Completion of $51M Series A to Advance Hypoimmune iPS-T Cell Therapy Platform - PR Newswire - December 13th, 2023
- CRISPRi gene modulation and all-optical electrophysiology in post-differentiated human iPSC-cardiomyocytes ... - Nature.com - December 7th, 2023
- World Hindu Congress 2023: Know all about the sessions and speakers - Organiser - November 23rd, 2023
- VCCT Inc., Leading the Field of Retinal Regeneration through iPS ... - Business Wire - November 21st, 2023
- Efficient protocol for the differentiation of kidney podocytes from ... - Nature.com - November 17th, 2023
- Vitamin B12 is a limiting factor for induced cellular plasticity and ... - Nature.com - November 17th, 2023
- Study reveals the critical role of microglia in human brain development - Medical Xpress - November 15th, 2023
- VCCT Inc., Leading the Field of Retinal Regeneration through iPS Cells, Raises 600 million Japanese yen (approximately $4 million USD) through... - November 15th, 2023
- Who are the leading innovators in iPSCs for the pharmaceutical ... - Pharmaceutical Technology - November 7th, 2023
- Using iPS Cells from I Peace, Heartseed Succeeds in Stable Production of High Purity Cardiomyocytes, A Major Step Forward in Advancing Autologous... - November 5th, 2023
- Systematic differences in discovery of genetic effects on gene ... - Nature.com - October 21st, 2023
- Pairwise biosynthesis of ion channels stabilizes excitability and ... - pnas.org - October 11th, 2023
- Scientists find multitude of genes associated with autism - The Statesman - October 9th, 2023
- Stem Cell Banking Market is Expected to Reach USD 16,474.30 ... - Digital Journal - October 7th, 2023
- Probing the individuality of cells and molecules - Open Access Government - October 5th, 2023
- Thymmune Therapeutics Receives $37M in Funding from the ... - Manchestertimes - October 3rd, 2023
- Thymmune Therapeutics Receives $37M in Funding from the ... - Business Wire - September 29th, 2023
- Less Funding to More Researchers Gets Nobel-level Results, Study ... - The Japan News - September 27th, 2023
- Brentuximab Vedotin Plus AVD Gets Positive CHMP Opinion for ... - OncLive - September 20th, 2023
- DKMS BMST Foundation India and Kokilaben Hospital unite to spread awareness about the Importance of Stem Cell Donation on World Marrow Donor Day - APN... - September 18th, 2023
- Vitamin B6 is governed by the local compartmentalization of ... - Science - September 14th, 2023
- Dolly the sheep creator Ian Wilmut dies aged 79 - BBC - September 14th, 2023
- Scientist who created Dolly the sheep dies aged 79: Professor Sir Ian Wilmut passes away five years after reve - Daily Mail - September 11th, 2023
- The global kits market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.4% from ... - Digital Journal - September 8th, 2023
- Eterna Therapeutics Announces Initiation of Development Activities ... - PipelineReview.com - September 8th, 2023
- Tokyo: 100 Years of Urban Regeneration / Tokyo's Nihonbashi Area ... - The Japan News - August 31st, 2023
- Transcriptome-based prediction of drugs, inhibiting ... - Nature.com - August 30th, 2023
- From the birds and the bees to IVG - The Gauntlet - August 26th, 2023
- Breakthrough creates stem cells without any memories - Freethink - August 26th, 2023
- Aging impairs the neurovascular interface in the heart - Science - August 26th, 2023
- For This Venture Capitalist, Research on Aging Is Personal; 'Bob ... - The Wall Street Journal - August 22nd, 2023
- Unleashing Potential: Illuminating the Future of Healthcare through Revolutionary Induced Pluripotent Stem Cel - openPR - August 18th, 2023
- A 'memory wipe' for stem cells may be the key to better therapies - The Conversation - August 16th, 2023
- Erasing epigenetic 'memory' to improve the quality of stem cells - FierceBiotech - August 16th, 2023
- HebeCell and Logomix Announce Collaboration for the ... - Business Wire - August 16th, 2023
- HebeCell and Logomix Announce Collaboration for the ... - Valdosta Daily Times - August 11th, 2023
- Advancing Clinical Trials with iPSC-Derived Liver Organoids - Microbioz India - August 11th, 2023
- Activation of cAMP (EPAC2) signaling pathway promotes hepatocyte ... - Nature.com - August 1st, 2023
- IPS HEART Announces Peer-Reviewed Publication in Cells of Aging Damage Reversal Showing GIVI-MPC Stem Cell Therapys Ability to Create New Skeletal... - July 30th, 2023
- Femtech in Japan: An Industry on the Rise - Femtech Insider - July 28th, 2023
- Association between enhanced carbonyl stress and decreased ... - Nature.com - July 28th, 2023
- Defects in early synaptic formation and neuronal function in Prader ... - Nature.com - July 27th, 2023
- IPS HEART Announces Peer-Reviewed Publication in Cells of ... - Business Wire - July 25th, 2023
- Cure to Autism and Alzheimer's May Be in Space, Says 1st Brazilian Scientist who Will Be on The ISS - Folha de S.Paulo - July 25th, 2023
- Futurama's Resurrection Ruins The Perfect Ending (& Shows Must ... - Looper - July 25th, 2023
- University Of Massachusetts Amherst's Team Bags Honour Of 2023 Armstrong Fund For Science Award - India Education Diary - July 20th, 2023
- Scientists working on IVG, a new reproductive method that can make human babies in labs - IndiaTimes - July 19th, 2023
- Co-transplantation of autologous Treg cells in a cell therapy for ... - Nature.com - July 13th, 2023
- Magic Valley and Biocellion Join Forces to Improve Bioreactor Tech ... - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine - July 13th, 2023
- IPS HEART Receives U.S. FDA Rare Pediatric Drug Designation for ... - Tullahoma News and Guardian - July 10th, 2023
- Hitachi : forms strategic research collaboration with Mass General Brigham in the field of regenerative medicine and GCT - Marketscreener.com - July 6th, 2023
- Cell therapy limitations with iPS-based multi-cell therapeutics - Drug Target Review - July 6th, 2023
- Remembering Dolly- The Clone Sheep On Her Birth Anniversary - Free Press Journal - July 4th, 2023
- Labs and Translational Research - UMass Medical School - June 28th, 2023
- Cellusion raises 2.83B series C round to progress iPS cell-derived ... - BioWorld Online - June 14th, 2023
- Japan-based Fujifilm introduces first-of-its-kind human iPSC-derived ... - BSA bureau - June 6th, 2023
- ALS: Parkinson's drug ropinirole may be an effective treatment - Medical News Today - June 4th, 2023
- Scientists predict lab-grown babies in five years - Kidspot - June 4th, 2023
- Lab-grown babies could become a reality within five years - Earth.com - May 26th, 2023
- Leading healthcare experts from MENA and beyond to explore the future of precision medicine in the region at PMES 23 this month - ZAWYA - May 24th, 2023
- Long-Awaited Ax-2 Mission Launches, Heads to Space Station - AmericaSpace - May 22nd, 2023
- Eterna Therapeutics and Factor Bioscience Announce New Data on ... - GlobeNewswire - May 17th, 2023
- Research Assistant job with UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ... - Times Higher Education - May 10th, 2023
- Regulation of synaptic connectivity in schizophrenia spectrum by ... - Nature.com - April 29th, 2023
- Researchers Discover Key Role of Glucose in Brain Activity - Laboratory Equipment - April 25th, 2023
- Structure of Huntington's Protein Revealed - Technology Networks - April 21st, 2023
- Study of brain immune cell infection may explain long COVID ... - NHK WORLD - April 19th, 2023
- The Mechanism That Regulates Activity of Memory Gene - Neuroscience News - April 19th, 2023
- The IPO Buzz: CytoMed Therapeutics Prices its Micro-Cap IPO at ... - IPOScoop - April 19th, 2023
- Macomics Presents its ENIGMAC Discovery Platform for Gene to Function Target Validation of Novel Macrophage Therapies at AACR - Yahoo Finance - April 19th, 2023
- Modulation of tau tubulin kinases (TTBK1 and TTBK2) impacts ... - Nature.com - April 19th, 2023
- A Cdk5-derived peptide inhibits Cdk5/p25 activity and improves ... - pnas.org - April 16th, 2023
Recent Comments