Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

A Pipeline using Bilateral In Utero Electroporation to Interrogate Genetic Influences on Rodent Behavior
Published on: May 21, 2020
Genetic links between brain development and brain evolution
Sandra L Gilbert1, William B Dobyns, Bruce T Lahn
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA.
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.
Related Concept Videos
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Biological Influences on Intelligence
Synteny and Evolution
Around 80 million years ago, the human and mice lineages diverged from the common ancestor. During the course of evolution, the ancestral chromosome underwent...
Behavioral Genetics and Its Designs
The primary methodologies used in behavior genetics include family studies, twin studies, and adoption studies, each providing unique...
Evolutionary Psychology
Neuroplasticity

