Skulls of modern humans, Homo sapiens (left) and Neanderthals (right). Wikimedia provided
Differences between the brains of Neanderthals, extinct cousins of modern humans, and those of modern humans have been revealed. Although the brains are similar in size, it has been confirmed that modern people’s brains have mutated DNA, which significantly improves their cognitive abilities.
Willand Hutner, a research team at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics in Germany, published the results of a study that revealed the genetic differences from modern humans by analyzing the Neanderthal genome in the international scientific journal Science on the 9th (local time).
The research team investigated 96 mutated genes that change the structure of proteins among the 19,000 genes included in modern DNA. Among them, a gene called ‘TKTL1’ was shown to activate proteins in the cerebral cortex and frontal lobe.
The research team speculated that this activated protein promotes the development of neurons that develop into neurons in the cortical area involved in cognitive functions. Neurons are nerve cells in which the brain and sensory organs send and receive commands.
In fact, when TKTL1 was injected into mice and ferrets, more neurons were generated. Conversely, when the TKTL1 gene was cut from brain tissue of a deceased fetus using CRISPR gene scissors, the production of neurons that produce neurons decreased.
In a ‘mini brain’ experiment made using human stem cells, it was confirmed that TKTL1 had an effect on the generation of neuronal cells. When Neanderthal brains and brains injected with TKTL1 were compared, neurons injected with the mutant gene were more actively generated.
Researcher Hutner, who led the study, said, “I was surprised that small genetic changes can have a big impact on brain development. will,” he said.