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Related Concept Videos

Evolutionary Psychology01:20

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary psychology explores the origins of human behavior and mental processes by framing them within the context of natural selection, a theory famously propounded by Charles Darwin. This field asserts that many behaviors common across human societies — ranging from instinctive fear reactions to complex social interactions — arose as evolutionary adaptations. These adaptations enhanced the survival and reproductive success of our ancestors, thereby becoming embedded in the human psyche...
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Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...
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Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Induction of Protein Deletion Through In Utero Electroporation to Define Deficits in Neuronal Migration in Transgenic Models
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Published on: January 12, 2015

Evolutionary forces shape the human RFPL1,2,3 genes toward a role in neocortex development.

Jérôme Bonnefont1, Sergey I Nikolaev, Anselme L Perrier

  • 1Department of Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland. jerome.bonnefont@medecine.unige.ch

American Journal of Human Genetics
|July 29, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The human RFPL1,2,3 gene cluster emerged and expanded during primate evolution, with increased expression in the neocortex potentially driving primate brain development.

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Published on: April 3, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Primate neocortex evolution involves gene duplication, expression changes, and protein evolution.
  • The Ret finger protein-like (RFPL) gene family's role in primate brain development is largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary history and expression patterns of the human RFPL1,2,3 gene cluster.
  • To explore the potential role of RFPL1,2,3 genes in primate neocortex expansion.

Main Methods:

  • Gene cluster identification and evolutionary analysis.
  • Transcriptional analysis in human embryonic stem cells and developing brain tissue.
  • Comparative expression analysis across species and brain regions.

Main Results:

  • The human RFPL1,2,3 gene cluster arose after the Euarchonta-Glires split, with multiple duplications in Catarrhini and hominoids.
  • RFPL1,2,3 genes are highly expressed in the developing human neocortex and embryonic stem cells, unlike the mouse ortholog.
  • Humans exhibit significantly higher cortical RFPL1,2,3 expression compared to chimpanzees, macaques, and their own cerebellum, with evidence of accelerated protein evolution and neofunctionalization.

Conclusions:

  • The recent emergence and expansion of the RFPL1,2,3 gene cluster, coupled with altered expression and accelerated evolution, likely contributed to primate neocortex size and organization.
  • RFPL1,2,3 genes represent a novel factor in human brain evolution.