http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-02-small-dna-chimp-human-brains.html
In not a chimp I documented the work of Katherine Pollard's lab in identifying rapidly evolving regions of DNA called HARs that exist outside known genes and are thought to enhance neighbouring gene activity. Here is a report on the HAR5 region by a lab influenced by Pollard's path-breaking research.
Are we humans simply remodelled apes? Chimps with a tweak? Is the difference between our genomes so minuscule it justifies the argument that our cognition and behaviour must also differ from chimps by barely a whisker? If “chimps are us” should we grant them human rights? Or is this one of the biggest fallacies in the study of evolution? NOT A CHIMP argues that these similarities have been grossly over-exaggerated - we should keep chimps at arm’s length. Are humans cognitively unique after all?
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
A gene for brain size only found in humans
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-02-gene-brain-size-humans.html
Interesting account of the discovery of one of 58 de novo human specific genes that are involved in increase in brain size.
Interesting account of the discovery of one of 58 de novo human specific genes that are involved in increase in brain size.