Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Linking Human Cortical Development and Evolution

The cerebral cortex is at the core of brain functions that are thought to be particularly developed in the human species. Human cortex specificities stem from divergent features of corticogenesis, leading to increased cortical size and complexity. Underlying cellularmechanisms include prolonged patterns of neuronal generation and maturation, as well as the amplification of specific types of stem/progenitor cells. While the gene regulatory networks of corticogenesis appear to be largely conserved among all mammals including humans, they have evolved in primates, particularly in the human species, through the emergence of rapidly divergent transcriptional regulatory elements, as well as recently duplicated novel genes. These human-specific molecular features together control key cellular milestones of human corticogenesis and are often affected in neurodevelopmental disorders, thus linking human neural development, evolution, and diseases.

Automated summary

The human cerebral cortex has unique developmental features, including prolonged patterns of neuronal generation and maturation, specific gene regulatory networks, and newly emerged molecular characteristics. These features are closely related to neurodevelopmental disorders, highlighting the connections between human neural development, evolution, and diseases.