1068-Cyto-temporal Gene Expression in Cortical Development

This research describes a new computational framework, Humous.org, designed to compare gene expression during brain development across humans, mice, and cortical organoids. By using machine vision and single-cell sequencing, the scientists discovered that while neurons are relatively similar across species, progenitor cells show significant evolutionary differences. A key finding highlights the transcription factor JUNB, which is active in human stem cells but only in mouse neurons, a shift that helps explain the larger size and slower maturation of the human cortex. The study proves that the gene IRF1 triggers this human-like growth pattern when introduced into mice, revealing how the timing and location of shared genes drive species-specific traits. Ultimately, this work provides a molecular map for understanding human brain evolution and the developmental origins of neurodevelopmental disorders.

References:

• Javed A, Gomez L, Pravata V, et al. Developmental gene expression patterns driving species-specific cortical features[J]. Nature, 2026: 1-9.