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Caglayan E, Konopka G. Evolutionary neurogenomics at single-cell resolution. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 88:102239. [PMID: 39094380 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
The human brain is composed of increasingly recognized heterogeneous cell types. Applying single-cell genomics to brain tissue can elucidate relative cell type proportions as well as differential gene expression and regulation among humans and other species. Here, we review recent studies that utilized high-throughput genomics approaches to compare brains among species at single-cell resolution. These studies identified genomic elements that are similar among species as well as evolutionary novelties on the human lineage. We focus on those human-relevant innovations and discuss the biological implications of these modifications. Finally, we discuss areas of comparative single-cell genomics that remain unexplored either due to needed technological advances or due to biological availability at the brain region or species level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Caglayan
- Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Genevieve Konopka
- Department of Neuroscience, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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2
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Zintel TM, Pizzollo J, Claypool CG, Babbitt CC. Astrocytes Drive Divergent Metabolic Gene Expression in Humans and Chimpanzees. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evad239. [PMID: 38159045 PMCID: PMC10829071 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The human brain utilizes ∼20% of all of the body's metabolic resources, while chimpanzee brains use <10%. Although previous work shows significant differences in metabolic gene expression between the brains of primates, we have yet to fully resolve the contribution of distinct brain cell types. To investigate cell type-specific interspecies differences in brain gene expression, we conducted RNA-seq on neural progenitor cells, neurons, and astrocytes generated from induced pluripotent stem cells from humans and chimpanzees. Interspecies differential expression analyses revealed that twice as many genes exhibit differential expression in astrocytes (12.2% of all genes expressed) than neurons (5.8%). Pathway enrichment analyses determined that astrocytes, rather than neurons, diverged in expression of glucose and lactate transmembrane transport, as well as pyruvate processing and oxidative phosphorylation. These findings suggest that astrocytes may have contributed significantly to the evolution of greater brain glucose metabolism with proximity to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trisha M Zintel
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jason Pizzollo
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Christopher G Claypool
- Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Courtney C Babbitt
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
- Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
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3
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Klarić TS, Gudelj I, Santpere G, Novokmet M, Vučković F, Ma S, Doll HM, Risgaard R, Bathla S, Karger A, Nairn AC, Luria V, Bečeheli I, Sherwood CC, Ely JJ, Hof PR, Sousa AM, Josić D, Lauc G, Sestan N. Human-specific features and developmental dynamics of the brain N-glycome. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg2615. [PMID: 38055821 PMCID: PMC10699788 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg2615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Comparative "omics" studies have revealed unique aspects of human neurobiology, yet an evolutionary perspective of the brain N-glycome is lacking. We performed multiregional characterization of rat, macaque, chimpanzee, and human brain N-glycomes using chromatography and mass spectrometry and then integrated these data with complementary glycotranscriptomic data. We found that, in primates, the brain N-glycome has diverged more rapidly than the underlying transcriptomic framework, providing a means for rapidly generating additional interspecies diversity. Our data suggest that brain N-glycome evolution in hominids has been characterized by an overall increase in complexity coupled with a shift toward increased usage of α(2-6)-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid. Moreover, interspecies differences in the cell type expression pattern of key glycogenes were identified, including some human-specific differences, which may underpin this evolutionary divergence. Last, by comparing the prenatal and adult human brain N-glycomes, we uncovered region-specific neurodevelopmental pathways that lead to distinct spatial N-glycosylation profiles in the mature brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S. Klarić
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Genos Glycoscience Research Laboratory, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivan Gudelj
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Genos Glycoscience Research Laboratory, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Gabriel Santpere
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | | | | | - Shaojie Ma
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hannah M. Doll
- Waisman Center and Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ryan Risgaard
- Waisman Center and Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Shveta Bathla
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Amir Karger
- IT Research Computing, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Angus C. Nairn
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Victor Luria
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | | | - Chet C. Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - John J. Ely
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- MAEBIOS, Alamogordo, NM, USA
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - André M. M. Sousa
- Waisman Center and Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Djuro Josić
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
- Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Gordan Lauc
- Genos Glycoscience Research Laboratory, Zagreb, Croatia
- University of Zagreb Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nenad Sestan
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Departments of Genetics and Comparative Medicine, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, and Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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4
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Chiou KL, Huang X, Bohlen MO, Tremblay S, DeCasien AR, O’Day DR, Spurrell CH, Gogate AA, Zintel TM, Andrews MG, Martínez MI, Starita LM, Montague MJ, Platt ML, Shendure J, Snyder-Mackler N. A single-cell multi-omic atlas spanning the adult rhesus macaque brain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh1914. [PMID: 37824616 PMCID: PMC10569716 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh1914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Cataloging the diverse cellular architecture of the primate brain is crucial for understanding cognition, behavior, and disease in humans. Here, we generated a brain-wide single-cell multimodal molecular atlas of the rhesus macaque brain. Together, we profiled 2.58 M transcriptomes and 1.59 M epigenomes from single nuclei sampled from 30 regions across the adult brain. Cell composition differed extensively across the brain, revealing cellular signatures of region-specific functions. We also identified 1.19 M candidate regulatory elements, many previously unidentified, allowing us to explore the landscape of cis-regulatory grammar and neurological disease risk in a cell type-specific manner. Altogether, this multi-omic atlas provides an open resource for investigating the evolution of the human brain and identifying novel targets for disease interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth L. Chiou
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Xingfan Huang
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Martin O. Bohlen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sébastien Tremblay
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alex R. DeCasien
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Diana R. O’Day
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cailyn H. Spurrell
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Aishwarya A. Gogate
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Trisha M. Zintel
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Cayo Biobank Research Unit
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Caribbean Primate Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Marketing Department, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Madeline G. Andrews
- School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Melween I. Martínez
- Caribbean Primate Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Lea M. Starita
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Michael J. Montague
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael L. Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Marketing Department, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jay Shendure
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Noah Snyder-Mackler
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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5
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Klarić TS, Gudelj I, Santpere G, Sousa AMM, Novokmet M, Vučković F, Ma S, Bečeheli I, Sherwood CC, Ely JJ, Hof PR, Josić D, Lauc G, Sestan N. Human-specific features and developmental dynamics of the brain N-glycome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.11.523525. [PMID: 36711977 PMCID: PMC9882074 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.11.523525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Comparative "omics" studies have revealed unique aspects of human neurobiology, yet an evolutionary perspective of the brain N-glycome is lacking. Here, we performed multi-regional characterization of rat, macaque, chimpanzee, and human brain N-glycomes using chromatography and mass spectrometry, then integrated these data with complementary glycotranscriptomic data. We found that in primates the brain N-glycome has evolved more rapidly than the underlying transcriptomic framework, providing a mechanism for generating additional diversity. We show that brain N-glycome evolution in hominids has been characterized by an increase in complexity and α(2-6)-linked N-acetylneuraminic acid along with human-specific cell-type expression of key glycogenes. Finally, by comparing the prenatal and adult human brain N-glycome, we identify region-specific neurodevelopmental pathways that lead to distinct spatial N-glycosylation profiles in the mature brain. One-Sentence Summary Evolution of the human brain N-glycome has been marked by an increase in complexity and a shift in sialic acid linkage.
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6
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Erady C, Amin K, Onilogbo TOAE, Tomasik J, Jukes-Jones R, Umrania Y, Bahn S, Prabakaran S. Novel open reading frames in human accelerated regions and transposable elements reveal new leads to understand schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:1455-1468. [PMID: 34937870 PMCID: PMC9095477 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01405-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder are debilitating neuropsychiatric disorders arising from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Novel open reading frames (nORFs) are genomic loci that give rise to previously uncharacterized transcripts and protein products. In our previous work, we have shown that nORFs can be biologically regulated and that they may play a role in cancer and rare diseases. More importantly, we have shown that nORFs may emerge in accelerated regions of the genome giving rise to species-specific functions. We hypothesize that nORFs represent a potentially important group of biological factors that may contribute to SCZ and bipolar disorder pathophysiology. Human accelerated regions (HARs) are genomic features showing human-lineage-specific rapid evolution that may be involved in biological regulation and have additionally been found to associate with SCZ genes. Transposable elements (TEs) are another set of genomic features that have been shown to regulate gene expression. As with HARs, their relevance to SCZ has also been suggested. Here, nORFs are investigated in the context of HARs and TEs. This work shows that nORFs whose expression is disrupted in SCZ and bipolar disorder are in close proximity to HARs and TEs and that some of them are significantly associated with SCZ and bipolar disorder genomic hotspots. We also show that nORF encoded proteins can form structures and potentially constitute novel drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaitanya Erady
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EH UK
| | - Krishna Amin
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EH UK
| | - Temiloluwa O. A. E. Onilogbo
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EH UK ,grid.5335.00000000121885934Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jakub Tomasik
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rebekah Jukes-Jones
- grid.9918.90000 0004 1936 8411Leicester Cancer Research Centre, RKCSB, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
| | - Yagnesh Umrania
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Cambridge Centre for Proteomics, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QR UK
| | - Sabine Bahn
- grid.5335.00000000121885934Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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7
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Gray Matter Variation in the Posterior Superior Temporal Gyrus Is Associated with Polymorphisms in the KIAA0319 Gene in Chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes). eNeuro 2021; 8:ENEURO.0169-21.2021. [PMID: 34815295 PMCID: PMC8672446 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0169-21.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining the impact that the KIAA0319 gene has on primate brain morphology can provide insight into the evolution of human cognition and language systems. Here, we tested whether polymorphisms in KIAA0319 in chimpanzees account for gray matter volumetric variation in brain regions implicated in language and communication (particularly within the posterior superior temporal gyrus and inferior frontal gyrus). First, we identified the nature and frequencies of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in KIAA0319 in a sample of unrelated chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes spp.). Next, we genotyped a subset of SNVs (those important for gene regulation or likely to alter protein structure/function) in a sample of chimpanzees for which in vivo T1-structural magnetic resonance imaging scans had been obtained. We then used source-based morphometry (SBM) to test for whole-brain gray matter covariation differences between chimpanzees with different KIAA0319 alleles. Finally, using histologic sections of 15 postmortem chimpanzee brains, we analyzed microstructural variation related to KIAA0319 polymorphisms in the posterior superior temporal cortex. We found that the SNVs were associated with variation in gray matter within several brain regions, including the posterior superior temporal gyrus (a region associated with language comprehension and production in humans). The microstructure analysis further revealed hemispheric differences in neuropil fraction, indicating that KIAA0319 expression may be involved in regulation of processes related to the formation and maintenance of synapses, dendrites, or axons within regions associated with communication.
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8
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Abstract
Creativity generates novel solutions to tasks by processing information. Imagination and mental representations are part of the creative process; we can mull over ideas of our own making, and construct algorithms or scenarios from them. Social scenario-building can be viewed as a human cognitive "super-power" that involves abstraction, meta-representation, time-travel, and directed imaginative thought. We humans have a "theater in our minds" to play out a near-infinite array of social strategies and contingencies. Here we propose an integrative model for why and how humans evolved extraordinary creative abilities. We posit that a key aspect of hominin evolution involved relatively open and fluid social relationships among communities, enabled by a unique extended family structure similar to that of contemporary hunter-gatherer band societies. Intercommunity relationships facilitated the rapid flow of information-"Culture"-that underpinned arms-races in information processing, language, imagination, and creativity that distinguishes humans from other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark V. Flinn
- Department of Anthropology, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States
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9
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Bueichekú E, Gonzalez-de-Echavarri JM, Ortiz-Teran L, Montal V, d'Oleire Uquillas F, De Marcos L, Orwig W, Kim CM, Ortiz-Teran E, Basaia S, Diez I, Sepulcre J. Divergent connectomic organization delineates genetic evolutionary traits in the human brain. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19692. [PMID: 34608211 PMCID: PMC8490416 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99082-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between human brain connectomics and genetic evolutionary traits remains elusive due to the inherent challenges in combining complex associations within cerebral tissue. In this study, insights are provided about the relationship between connectomics, gene expression and divergent evolutionary pathways from non-human primates to humans. Using in vivo human brain resting-state data, we detected two co-existing idiosyncratic functional systems: the segregation network, in charge of module specialization, and the integration network, responsible for information flow. Their topology was approximated to whole-brain genetic expression (Allen Human Brain Atlas) and the co-localization patterns yielded that neuron communication functionalities-linked to Neuron Projection-were overrepresented cell traits. Homologue-orthologue comparisons using dN/dS-ratios bridged the gap between neurogenetic outcomes and biological data, summarizing the known evolutionary divergent pathways within the Homo Sapiens lineage. Evidence suggests that a crosstalk between functional specialization and information flow reflects putative biological qualities of brain architecture, such as neurite cellular functions like axonal or dendrite processes, hypothesized to have been selectively conserved in the species through positive selection. These findings expand our understanding of human brain function and unveil aspects of our cognitive trajectory in relation to our simian ancestors previously left unexplored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisenda Bueichekú
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Jose M Gonzalez-de-Echavarri
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Barcelona βeta Brain Research Center, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Ortiz-Teran
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Victor Montal
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigacón Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Federico d'Oleire Uquillas
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, USA
| | - Lola De Marcos
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- University of Navarra School of Medicine, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
| | - William Orwig
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | - Chan-Mi Kim
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, USA
| | - Elena Ortiz-Teran
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Basaia
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Ibai Diez
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, USA
| | - Jorge Sepulcre
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, USA.
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10
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Marciniak S, Mughal MR, Godfrey LR, Bankoff RJ, Randrianatoandro H, Crowley BE, Bergey CM, Muldoon KM, Randrianasy J, Raharivololona BM, Schuster SC, Malhi RS, Yoder AD, Louis EE, Kistler L, Perry GH. Evolutionary and phylogenetic insights from a nuclear genome sequence of the extinct, giant, "subfossil" koala lemur Megaladapis edwardsi. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2022117118. [PMID: 34162703 PMCID: PMC8255780 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022117118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
No endemic Madagascar animal with body mass >10 kg survived a relatively recent wave of extinction on the island. From morphological and isotopic analyses of skeletal "subfossil" remains we can reconstruct some of the biology and behavioral ecology of giant lemurs (primates; up to ∼160 kg) and other extraordinary Malagasy megafauna that survived into the past millennium. Yet, much about the evolutionary biology of these now-extinct species remains unknown, along with persistent phylogenetic uncertainty in some cases. Thankfully, despite the challenges of DNA preservation in tropical and subtropical environments, technical advances have enabled the recovery of ancient DNA from some Malagasy subfossil specimens. Here, we present a nuclear genome sequence (∼2× coverage) for one of the largest extinct lemurs, the koala lemur Megaladapis edwardsi (∼85 kg). To support the testing of key phylogenetic and evolutionary hypotheses, we also generated high-coverage nuclear genomes for two extant lemurs, Eulemur rufifrons and Lepilemur mustelinus, and we aligned these sequences with previously published genomes for three other extant lemurs and 47 nonlemur vertebrates. Our phylogenetic results confirm that Megaladapis is most closely related to the extant Lemuridae (typified in our analysis by E. rufifrons) to the exclusion of L. mustelinus, which contradicts morphology-based phylogenies. Our evolutionary analyses identified significant convergent evolution between M. edwardsi and an extant folivore (a colobine monkey) and an herbivore (horse) in genes encoding proteins that function in plant toxin biodegradation and nutrient absorption. These results suggest that koala lemurs were highly adapted to a leaf-based diet, which may also explain their convergent craniodental morphology with the small-bodied folivore Lepilemur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Marciniak
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Mehreen R Mughal
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Intercollege Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16082
| | - Laurie R Godfrey
- Department of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003
| | - Richard J Bankoff
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Heritiana Randrianatoandro
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Mention Anthropobiologie et Développement Durable, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
| | - Brooke E Crowley
- Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45220
- Department of Anthropology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45220
| | - Christina M Bergey
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08854
| | | | - Jeannot Randrianasy
- Mention Anthropobiologie et Développement Durable, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
| | - Brigitte M Raharivololona
- Mention Anthropobiologie et Développement Durable, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Antananarivo, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
| | - Stephan C Schuster
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798
| | - Ripan S Malhi
- Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
| | - Anne D Yoder
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708
| | - Edward E Louis
- Department of Conservation Genetics, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha, NE 68107;
| | - Logan Kistler
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560;
| | - George H Perry
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802;
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Intercollege Graduate Program, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16082
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
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11
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Franchini LF. Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Cortical Evolution in Mammals. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:591017. [PMID: 33659245 PMCID: PMC7917222 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.591017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The remarkable sensory, motor, and cognitive abilities of mammals mainly depend on the neocortex. Thus, the emergence of the six-layered neocortex in reptilian ancestors of mammals constitutes a fundamental evolutionary landmark. The mammalian cortex is a columnar epithelium of densely packed cells organized in layers where neurons are generated mainly in the subventricular zone in successive waves throughout development. Newborn cells move away from their site of neurogenesis through radial or tangential migration to reach their specific destination closer to the pial surface of the same or different cortical area. Interestingly, the genetic programs underlying neocortical development diversified in different mammalian lineages. In this work, I will review several recent studies that characterized how distinct transcriptional programs relate to the development and functional organization of the neocortex across diverse mammalian lineages. In some primates such as the anthropoids, the neocortex became extremely large, especially in humans where it comprises around 80% of the brain. It has been hypothesized that the massive expansion of the cortical surface and elaboration of its connections in the human lineage, has enabled our unique cognitive capacities including abstract thinking, long-term planning, verbal language and elaborated tool making capabilities. I will also analyze the lineage-specific genetic changes that could have led to the modification of key neurodevelopmental events, including regulation of cell number, neuronal migration, and differentiation into specific phenotypes, in order to shed light on the evolutionary mechanisms underlying the diversity of mammalian brains including the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Florencia Franchini
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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12
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Tu N, Liang D, Zhang P. Whole-exome sequencing and genome-wide evolutionary analyses identify novel candidate genes associated with infrared perception in pit vipers. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13033. [PMID: 32747674 PMCID: PMC7400743 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69843-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Pit vipers possess a unique thermal sensory system consisting of facial pits that allow them to detect minute temperature fluctuations within their environments. Biologists have long attempted to elucidate the genetic basis underlying the infrared perception of pit vipers. Early studies have shown that the TRPA1 gene is the thermal sensor associated with infrared detection in pit vipers. However, whether genes other than TRPA1 are also involved in the infrared perception of pit vipers remains unknown. Here, we sequenced the whole exomes of ten snake species and performed genome-wide evolutionary analyses to search for novel candidate genes that might be involved in the infrared perception of pit vipers. We applied both branch-length-comparison and selection-pressure-alteration analyses to identify genes that specifically underwent accelerated evolution in the ancestral lineage of pit vipers. A total of 47 genes were identified. These genes were significantly enriched in the ion transmembrane transporter, stabilization of membrane potential, and temperature gating activity functional categories. The expression levels of these candidate genes in relevant nerve tissues (trigeminal ganglion, dorsal root ganglion, midbrain, and cerebrum) were also investigated in this study. We further chose one of our candidate genes, the potassium channel gene KCNK4, as an example to discuss its possible role in the infrared perception of pit vipers. Our study provides the first genome-wide survey of infrared perception-related genes in pit vipers via comparative evolutionary analyses and reveals valuable candidate genes for future functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, College of Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Higher Education Mega Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Dan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, College of Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Higher Education Mega Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, College of Ecology and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Higher Education Mega Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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13
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Nesic MJ, Stojkovic B, Maric NP. On the origin of schizophrenia: Testing evolutionary theories in the post-genomic era. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019; 73:723-730. [PMID: 31525268 DOI: 10.1111/pcn.12933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Considering the relatively high heritability of schizophrenia and the fact that it significantly reduces the reproductive fitness of affected individuals, it is not clear how the disorder is still maintained in human populations at a disproportionally high prevalence. Many theories propose that the disorder is a result of a trade-off between costs and benefits of the evolution of exclusively human adaptations. There have also been suggestions that schizophrenia risk alleles are accompanied with increase in fitness of affected persons or their relatives in both past and current social contexts. The discoveries of novel schizophrenia-related genes and the advancements in comparative genomics (especially comparisons of the human genome and the genomes of related species, such as chimpanzees and extinct hominids) have finally made certain evolutionary theories testable. In this paper, we review the current understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia, the basic principles of evolution that complement our understanding of the subject, and the latest genetic studies that examine long-standing evolutionary theories of schizophrenia using novel methodologies and data. We find that the origin of schizophrenia is complex and likely governed by different evolutionary mechanisms that are not mutually exclusive. Furthermore, the most recent evidence implies that schizophrenia cannot be comprehended as a trait that has elevated fitness in human evolutionary lineage, but has been a mildly deleterious by-product of specific patterns of the evolution of the human brain. In other words, novel findings do not support previous hypotheses stating that schizophrenia risk genes have an evolutionary advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica J Nesic
- Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Biljana Stojkovic
- Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.,Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković', University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nadja P Maric
- Clinic for Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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14
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Miller DJ, Bhaduri A, Sestan N, Kriegstein A. Shared and derived features of cellular diversity in the human cerebral cortex. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 56:117-124. [PMID: 30677551 PMCID: PMC6996583 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The cerebral cortex is the hallmark of the mammalian nervous system, and its large size and cellular diversity in humans support our most sophisticated cognitive abilities. Although the basic cellular organization of the cortex is conserved across mammals, cells have diversified during evolution. An increasingly integrated taxonomy of cell types, especially with the advent of single-cell transcriptomic data, has revealed an unprecedented variety of human cortical cell subtypes. Here, we broadly review the cellular composition and diversity of the mammalian brain, and how progenitor pools generate cell subtypes during development. We then discuss human cortical cells that are distinct from rodent cells, as well as the challenges and advantages of using model systems to study human cell types in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Miller
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Aparna Bhaduri
- Department of Neurology and the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nenad Sestan
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Departments of Genetics, of Psychiatry, and of Comparative Medicine, Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Arnold Kriegstein
- Department of Neurology and the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at the University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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15
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Petanjek Z, Sedmak D, Džaja D, Hladnik A, Rašin MR, Jovanov-Milosevic N. The Protracted Maturation of Associative Layer IIIC Pyramidal Neurons in the Human Prefrontal Cortex During Childhood: A Major Role in Cognitive Development and Selective Alteration in Autism. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:122. [PMID: 30923504 PMCID: PMC6426783 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The human specific cognitive shift starts around the age of 2 years with the onset of self-awareness, and continues with extraordinary increase in cognitive capacities during early childhood. Diffuse changes in functional connectivity in children aged 2-6 years indicate an increase in the capacity of cortical network. Interestingly, structural network complexity does not increase during this time and, thus, it is likely to be induced by selective maturation of a specific neuronal subclass. Here, we provide an overview of a subclass of cortico-cortical neurons, the associative layer IIIC pyramids of the human prefrontal cortex. Their local axonal collaterals are in control of the prefrontal cortico-cortical output, while their long projections modulate inter-areal processing. In this way, layer IIIC pyramids are the major integrative element of cortical processing, and changes in their connectivity patterns will affect global cortical functioning. Layer IIIC neurons have a unique pattern of dendritic maturation. In contrast to other classes of principal neurons, they undergo an additional phase of extensive dendritic growth during early childhood, and show characteristic molecular changes. Taken together, circuits associated with layer IIIC neurons have the most protracted period of developmental plasticity. This unique feature is advanced but also provides a window of opportunity for pathological events to disrupt normal formation of cognitive circuits involving layer IIIC neurons. In this manuscript, we discuss how disrupted dendritic and axonal maturation of layer IIIC neurons may lead into global cortical disconnectivity, affecting development of complex communication and social abilities. We also propose a model that developmentally dictated incorporation of layer IIIC neurons into maturing cortico-cortical circuits between 2 to 6 years will reveal a previous (perinatal) lesion affecting other classes of principal neurons. This "disclosure" of pre-existing functionally silent lesions of other neuronal classes induced by development of layer IIIC associative neurons, or their direct alteration, could be found in different forms of autism spectrum disorders. Understanding the gene-environment interaction in shaping cognitive microcircuitries may be fundamental for developing rehabilitation and prevention strategies in autism spectrum and other cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zdravko Petanjek
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dora Sedmak
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Domagoj Džaja
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Hladnik
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mladen Roko Rašin
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Nataša Jovanov-Milosevic
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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16
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Zhu Y, Sousa AMM, Gao T, Skarica M, Li M, Santpere G, Esteller-Cucala P, Juan D, Ferrández-Peral L, Gulden FO, Yang M, Miller DJ, Marques-Bonet T, Imamura Kawasawa Y, Zhao H, Sestan N. Spatiotemporal transcriptomic divergence across human and macaque brain development. Science 2018; 362:eaat8077. [PMID: 30545855 PMCID: PMC6900982 DOI: 10.1126/science.aat8077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Human nervous system development is an intricate and protracted process that requires precise spatiotemporal transcriptional regulation. We generated tissue-level and single-cell transcriptomic data from up to 16 brain regions covering prenatal and postnatal rhesus macaque development. Integrative analysis with complementary human data revealed that global intraspecies (ontogenetic) and interspecies (phylogenetic) regional transcriptomic differences exhibit concerted cup-shaped patterns, with a late fetal-to-infancy (perinatal) convergence. Prenatal neocortical transcriptomic patterns revealed transient topographic gradients, whereas postnatal patterns largely reflected functional hierarchy. Genes exhibiting heterotopic and heterochronic divergence included those transiently enriched in the prenatal prefrontal cortex or linked to autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Our findings shed light on transcriptomic programs underlying the evolution of human brain development and the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhu
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - André M M Sousa
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tianliuyun Gao
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mario Skarica
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mingfeng Li
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Gabriel Santpere
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - David Juan
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), PRBB, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Forrest O Gulden
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mo Yang
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Daniel J Miller
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tomas Marques-Bonet
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology (UPF-CSIC), PRBB, Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution of Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yuka Imamura Kawasawa
- Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Personalized Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nenad Sestan
- Department of Neuroscience and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Departments of Genetics, Psychiatry, and Comparative Medicine, Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, and Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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17
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Abstract
What made us human? Gene expression changes clearly played a significant part in human evolution, but pinpointing the causal regulatory mutations is hard. Comparative genomics enabled the identification of human accelerated regions (HARs) and other human-specific genome sequences. The major challenge in the past decade has been to link diverged sequences to uniquely human biology. This review discusses approaches to this problem, progress made at the molecular level, and prospects for moving towards genetic causes for uniquely human biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía F Franchini
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Katherine S Pollard
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA. .,Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Institute for Human Genetics, Institute for Computational Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
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18
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Sousa AMM, Meyer KA, Santpere G, Gulden FO, Sestan N. Evolution of the Human Nervous System Function, Structure, and Development. Cell 2017; 170:226-247. [PMID: 28708995 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2017.06.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 244] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The nervous system-in particular, the brain and its cognitive abilities-is among humans' most distinctive and impressive attributes. How the nervous system has changed in the human lineage and how it differs from that of closely related primates is not well understood. Here, we consider recent comparative analyses of extant species that are uncovering new evidence for evolutionary changes in the size and the number of neurons in the human nervous system, as well as the cellular and molecular reorganization of its neural circuits. We also discuss the developmental mechanisms and underlying genetic and molecular changes that generate these structural and functional differences. As relevant new information and tools materialize at an unprecedented pace, the field is now ripe for systematic and functionally relevant studies of the development and evolution of human nervous system specializations.
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Affiliation(s)
- André M M Sousa
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kyle A Meyer
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Gabriel Santpere
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Forrest O Gulden
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nenad Sestan
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Section of Comparative Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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19
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Abstract
Culture suffuses all aspects of human life. It shapes our minds and bodies and has provided a cumulative inheritance of knowledge, skills, institutions, and artifacts that allows us to truly stand on the shoulders of giants. No other species approaches the extent, diversity, and complexity of human culture, but we remain unsure how this came to be. The very uniqueness of human culture is both a puzzle and a problem. It is puzzling as to why more species have not adopted this manifestly beneficial strategy and problematic because the comparative methods of evolutionary biology are ill suited to explain unique events. Here, we develop a more particularistic and mechanistic evolutionary neuroscience approach to cumulative culture, taking into account experimental, developmental, comparative, and archaeological evidence. This approach reconciles currently competing accounts of the origins of human culture and develops the concept of a uniquely human technological niche rooted in a shared primate heritage of visuomotor coordination and dexterous manipulation.
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20
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Abstract
Scenarios summarize evolutionary patterns and processes by interpreting organismal traits and their natural history correlates in a phylogenetic context. They are constructed by (1) describing phenotypes (including physiology and behavior), ideally with attention to formative roles of development, experience, and culture; (2) inferring homologies, homoplasies, ancestral character states, and their transformations with phylogenetic analyses; and (3) integrating those components with ecological and other ancillary data. At their best, evolutionary scenarios are factually dense narratives that entail no known falsehoods; their empirical and methodological shortcomings are transparent, they might be rejected based on new discoveries, and their potential ideological pitfalls are flagged for scrutiny. They are exemplified here by homoplastic foraging with percussive tools by humans, chimpanzees, capuchins, and macaques; homoplastic hunting with spears by humans and chimpanzees; and private experiences (e.g., sense of fairness, grief) among diverse animals, the homologous or homoplastic status of which often remains unexplored. Although scenarios are problematic when used to bolster political agendas, if constructed carefully and regarded skeptically, they can synthesize knowledge, inspire research, engender public understanding of evolution, enrich ethical debates, and provide a deeper historical context for conservation, including nature appreciation.
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21
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Upadhyay A, Joshi V, Amanullah A, Mishra R, Arora N, Prasad A, Mishra A. E3 Ubiquitin Ligases Neurobiological Mechanisms: Development to Degeneration. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:151. [PMID: 28579943 PMCID: PMC5437216 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells regularly synthesize new proteins to replace old or damaged proteins. Deposition of various aberrant proteins in specific brain regions leads to neurodegeneration and aging. The cellular protein quality control system develop various defense mechanisms against the accumulation of misfolded and aggregated proteins. The mechanisms underlying the selective recognition of specific crucial protein or misfolded proteins are majorly governed by quality control E3 ubiquitin ligases mediated through ubiquitin-proteasome system. Few known E3 ubiquitin ligases have shown prominent neurodevelopmental functions, but their interactions with different developmental proteins play critical roles in neurodevelopmental disorders. Several questions are yet to be understood properly. How E3 ubiquitin ligases determine the specificity and regulate degradation of a particular substrate involved in neuronal proliferation and differentiation is certainly the one, which needs detailed investigations. Another important question is how neurodevelopmental E3 ubiquitin ligases specifically differentiate between their versatile range of substrates and timing of their functional modulations during different phases of development. The premise of this article is to understand how few E3 ubiquitin ligases sense major molecular events, which are crucial for human brain development from its early embryonic stages to throughout adolescence period. A better understanding of these few E3 ubiquitin ligases and their interactions with other potential proteins will provide invaluable insight into disease mechanisms to approach toward therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Upadhyay
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology JodhpurJodhpur, India
| | - Vibhuti Joshi
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology JodhpurJodhpur, India
| | - Ayeman Amanullah
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology JodhpurJodhpur, India
| | - Ribhav Mishra
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology JodhpurJodhpur, India
| | - Naina Arora
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology MandiMandi, India
| | - Amit Prasad
- School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology MandiMandi, India
| | - Amit Mishra
- Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Indian Institute of Technology JodhpurJodhpur, India
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22
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Pervaiz N, Abbasi AA. Molecular evolution of WDR62, a gene that regulates neocorticogenesis. Meta Gene 2016; 9:1-9. [PMID: 27114917 PMCID: PMC4833054 DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2016.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Human brain evolution is characterized by dramatic expansion in cerebral cortex size. WDR62 (WD repeat domain 62) is one of the important gene in controlling human cortical development. Mutations in WDR62 lead to primary microcephaly, a neurodevelopmental disease characterized by three to four fold reduction in cerebral cortex size of affected individuals. This study analyzes comparative protein evolutionary rate to provide a useful insight into the molecular evolution of WDR62 and hence pinpointed human specific amino acid replacements. Comparative analysis of human WDR62 with two archaic humans (Neanderthals and Denisovans) and modern human populations revealed that five hominin specific amino acid residues (human specific amino acids shared with two archaic humans) might have been accumulated in the common ancestor of extinct archaic humans and modern humans about 550,000–765,000 years ago. Collectively, the data demonstrates an acceleration of WDR62 sequence evolution in hominin lineage and suggests that the ability of WDR62 protein to mediate the neurogenesis has been altered in the course of hominin evolution. We trace the evolutionary history of WDR62 and its putative paralogs. We identify accelerated sequence evolution in human WDR62. We pinpoint eight human specific amino acid sites that reside on the C-terminal. Out of eight, six sites are shared with archaic humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nashaiman Pervaiz
- National Center for Bioinformatics, Program of Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Amir Ali Abbasi
- National Center for Bioinformatics, Program of Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
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23
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A ventral salience network in the macaque brain. Neuroimage 2016; 132:190-197. [PMID: 26899785 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2016.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful navigation of the environment requires attending and responding efficiently to objects and conspecifics with the potential to benefit or harm (i.e., that have value). In humans, this function is subserved by a distributed large-scale neural network called the "salience network". We have recently demonstrated that there are two anatomically and functionally dissociable salience networks anchored in the dorsal and ventral portions of the human anterior insula (Touroutoglou et al., 2012). In this paper, we test the hypothesis that these two subnetworks exist in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). We provide evidence that a homologous ventral salience network exists in macaques, but that the connectivity of the dorsal anterior insula in macaques is not sufficiently developed as a dorsal salience network. The evolutionary implications of these finding are considered.
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24
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Abstract
A new study finds that rhesus monkeys display self-recognition behaviors toward a mirror after multimodal sensory-motor training. This finding closes a prior gap in the evolutionary continuity of animal cognition and opens new frontiers for exploring the neurobiological basis of self-awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Toda
- Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - Michael L Platt
- Duke Institute for Brain Sciences and Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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25
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Abstract
The recent finding that the human version of a neurodevelopmental enhancer of the Wnt receptor Frizzled 8 (FZD8) gene alters neural progenitor cell cycle timing and brain size is a step forward to understanding human brain evolution. The human brain is distinctive in terms of its cognitive abilities as well as its susceptibility to neurological disease. Identifying which of the millions of genomic changes that occurred during human evolution led to these and other uniquely human traits is extremely challenging. Recent studies have demonstrated that many of the fastest evolving regions of the human genome function as gene regulatory enhancers during embryonic development and that the human‐specific mutations in them might alter expression patterns. However, elucidating molecular and cellular effects of sequence or expression pattern changes is a major obstacle to discovering the genetic bases of the evolution of our species. There is much work to do before human‐specific genetic and genomic changes are linked to complex human traits. Also watch the Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía F Franchini
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Katherine S Pollard
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Institute for Human Genetics, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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26
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Gash DM, Deane AS. Neuron-based heredity and human evolution. Front Neurosci 2015; 9:209. [PMID: 26136649 PMCID: PMC4469835 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2015.00209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely recognized that human evolution has been driven by two systems of heredity: one DNA-based and the other based on the transmission of behaviorally acquired information via nervous system functions. The genetic system is ancient, going back to the appearance of life on Earth. It is responsible for the evolutionary processes described by Darwin. By comparison, the nervous system is relatively newly minted and in its highest form, responsible for ideation and mind-to-mind transmission of information. Here the informational capabilities and functions of the two systems are compared. While employing quite different mechanisms for encoding, storing and transmission of information, both systems perform these generic hereditary functions. Three additional features of neuron-based heredity in humans are identified: the ability to transfer hereditary information to other members of their population, not just progeny; a selection process for the information being transferred; and a profoundly shorter time span for creation and dissemination of survival-enhancing information in a population. The mechanisms underlying neuron-based heredity involve hippocampal neurogenesis and memory and learning processes modifying and creating new neural assemblages changing brain structure and functions. A fundamental process in rewiring brain circuitry is through increased neural activity (use) strengthening and increasing the number of synaptic connections. Decreased activity in circuitry (disuse) leads to loss of synapses. Use and disuse modifying an organ to bring about new modes of living, habits and functions are processes in line with Neolamarckian concepts of evolution (Packard, 1901). Evidence is presented of bipartite evolutionary processes-Darwinian and Neolamarckian-driving human descent from a common ancestor shared with the great apes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don M. Gash
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, University of KentuckyLexington, KY, USA
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27
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Richards S. It's more than stamp collecting: how genome sequencing can unify biological research. Trends Genet 2015; 31:411-21. [PMID: 26003218 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2015.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Revised: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The availability of reference genome sequences, especially the human reference, has revolutionized the study of biology. However, while the genomes of some species have been fully sequenced, a wide range of biological problems still cannot be effectively studied for lack of genome sequence information. Here, I identify neglected areas of biology and describe how both targeted species sequencing and more broad taxonomic surveys of the tree of life can address important biological questions. I enumerate the significant benefits that would accrue from sequencing a broader range of taxa, as well as discuss the technical advances in sequencing and assembly methods that would allow for wide-ranging application of whole-genome analysis. Finally, I suggest that in addition to 'big science' survey initiatives to sequence the tree of life, a modified infrastructure-funding paradigm would better support reference genome sequence generation for research communities most in need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Richards
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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28
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Xu K, Schadt EE, Pollard KS, Roussos P, Dudley JT. Genomic and network patterns of schizophrenia genetic variation in human evolutionary accelerated regions. Mol Biol Evol 2015; 32:1148-60. [PMID: 25681384 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The population persistence of schizophrenia despite associated reductions in fitness and fecundity suggests that the genetic basis of schizophrenia has a complex evolutionary history. A recent meta-analysis of schizophrenia genome-wide association studies offers novel opportunities for assessment of the evolutionary trajectories of schizophrenia-associated loci. In this study, we hypothesize that components of the genetic architecture of schizophrenia are attributable to human lineage-specific evolution. Our results suggest that schizophrenia-associated loci enrich in genes near previously identified human accelerated regions (HARs). Specifically, we find that genes near HARs conserved in nonhuman primates (pHARs) are enriched for schizophrenia-associated loci, and that pHAR-associated schizophrenia genes are under stronger selective pressure than other schizophrenia genes and other pHAR-associated genes. We further evaluate pHAR-associated schizophrenia genes in regulatory network contexts to investigate associated molecular functions and mechanisms. We find that pHAR-associated schizophrenia genes significantly enrich in a GABA-related coexpression module that was previously found to be differentially regulated in schizophrenia affected individuals versus healthy controls. In another two independent networks constructed from gene expression profiles from prefrontal cortex samples, we find that pHAR-associated schizophrenia genes are located in more central positions and their average path lengths to the other nodes are significantly shorter than those of other schizophrenia genes. Together, our results suggest that HARs are associated with potentially important functional roles in the genetic architecture of schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Xu
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Eric E Schadt
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Katherine S Pollard
- Gladstone Institutes, University of California, San Francisco Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Panos Roussos
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Joel T Dudley
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
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29
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Striedter GF, Belgard TG, Chen CC, Davis FP, Finlay BL, Güntürkün O, Hale ME, Harris JA, Hecht EE, Hof PR, Hofmann HA, Holland LZ, Iwaniuk AN, Jarvis ED, Karten HJ, Katz PS, Kristan WB, Macagno ER, Mitra PP, Moroz LL, Preuss TM, Ragsdale CW, Sherwood CC, Stevens CF, Stüttgen MC, Tsumoto T, Wilczynski W. NSF workshop report: discovering general principles of nervous system organization by comparing brain maps across species. J Comp Neurol 2014; 522:1445-53. [PMID: 24596113 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Efforts to understand nervous system structure and function have received new impetus from the federal Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. Comparative analyses can contribute to this effort by leading to the discovery of general principles of neural circuit design, information processing, and gene-structure-function relationships that are not apparent from studies on single species. We here propose to extend the comparative approach to nervous system 'maps' comprising molecular, anatomical, and physiological data. This research will identify which neural features are likely to generalize across species, and which are unlikely to be broadly conserved. It will also suggest causal relationships between genes, development, adult anatomy, physiology, and, ultimately, behavior. These causal hypotheses can then be tested experimentally. Finally, insights from comparative research can inspire and guide technological development. To promote this research agenda, we recommend that teams of investigators coalesce around specific research questions and select a set of 'reference species' to anchor their comparative analyses. These reference species should be chosen not just for practical advantages, but also with regard for their phylogenetic position, behavioral repertoire, well-annotated genome, or other strategic reasons. We envision that the nervous systems of these reference species will be mapped in more detail than those of other species. The collected data may range from the molecular to the behavioral, depending on the research question. To integrate across levels of analysis and across species, standards for data collection, annotation, archiving, and distribution must be developed and respected. To that end, it will help to form networks or consortia of researchers and centers for science, technology, and education that focus on organized data collection, distribution, and training. These activities could be supported, at least in part, through existing mechanisms at NSF, NIH, and other agencies. It will also be important to develop new integrated software and database systems for cross-species data analyses. Multidisciplinary efforts to develop such analytical tools should be supported financially. Finally, training opportunities should be created to stimulate multidisciplinary, integrative research into brain structure, function, and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg F Striedter
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California
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30
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Abstract
The field of nonhuman primate genomics is undergoing rapid change and making impressive progress. Exploiting new technologies for DNA sequencing, researchers have generated new whole-genome sequence assemblies for multiple primate species over the past 6 years. In addition, investigations of within-species genetic variation, gene expression and RNA sequences, conservation of non-protein-coding regions of the genome, and other aspects of comparative genomics are moving at an accelerating speed. This progress is opening a wide array of new research opportunities in the analysis of comparative primate genome content and evolution. It also creates new possibilities for the use of nonhuman primates as model organisms in biomedical research. This transition, based on both new technology and the new information being generated in regard to human genetics, provides an important justification for reevaluating the research goals, strategies, and study designs used in primate genetics and genomics.
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31
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Striedter GF, Belgard TG, Chen CC, Davis FP, Finlay BL, Güntürkün O, Hale ME, Harris JA, Hecht EE, Hof PR, Hofmann HA, Holland LZ, Iwaniuk AN, Jarvis ED, Karten HJ, Katz PS, Kristan WB, Macagno ER, Mitra PP, Moroz LL, Preuss TM, Ragsdale CW, Sherwood CC, Stevens CF, Stüttgen MC, Tsumoto T, Wilczynski W. NSF workshop report: discovering general principles of nervous system organization by comparing brain maps across species. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2014; 83:1-8. [PMID: 24603302 DOI: 10.1159/000360152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Efforts to understand nervous system structure and function have received new impetus from the federal Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. Comparative analyses can contribute to this effort by leading to the discovery of general principles of neural circuit design, information processing, and gene-structure-function relationships that are not apparent from studies on single species. We here propose to extend the comparative approach to nervous system 'maps' comprising molecular, anatomical, and physiological data. This research will identify which neural features are likely to generalize across species, and which are unlikely to be broadly conserved. It will also suggest causal relationships between genes, development, adult anatomy, physiology, and, ultimately, behavior. These causal hypotheses can then be tested experimentally. Finally, insights from comparative research can inspire and guide technological development. To promote this research agenda, we recommend that teams of investigators coalesce around specific research questions and select a set of 'reference species' to anchor their comparative analyses. These reference species should be chosen not just for practical advantages, but also with regard for their phylogenetic position, behavioral repertoire, well-annotated genome, or other strategic reasons. We envision that the nervous systems of these reference species will be mapped in more detail than those of other species. The collected data may range from the molecular to the behavioral, depending on the research question. To integrate across levels of analysis and across species, standards for data collection, annotation, archiving, and distribution must be developed and respected. To that end, it will help to form networks or consortia of researchers and centers for science, technology, and education that focus on organized data collection, distribution, and training. These activities could be supported, at least in part, through existing mechanisms at NSF, NIH, and other agencies. It will also be important to develop new integrated software and database systems for cross-species data analyses. Multidisciplinary efforts to develop such analytical tools should be supported financially. Finally, training opportunities should be created to stimulate multidisciplinary, integrative research into brain structure, function, and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg F Striedter
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif., USA
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32
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Krubitzer L, Stolzenberg DS. The evolutionary masquerade: genetic and epigenetic contributions to the neocortex. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2014; 24:157-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2013.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2013] [Revised: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Abstract
To understand the emergence of human higher cognition, we must understand its biological substrate--the cerebral cortex, which considers itself the crowning achievement of evolution. Here, we describe how advances in developmental neurobiology, coupled with those in genetics, including adaptive protein evolution via gene duplications and the emergence of novel regulatory elements, can provide insights into the evolutionary mechanisms culminating in the human cerebrum. Given that the massive expansion of the cortical surface and elaboration of its connections in humans originates from developmental events, understanding the genetic regulation of cell number, neuronal migration to proper layers, columns, and regions, and ultimately their differentiation into specific phenotypes, is critical. The pre- and postnatal environment also interacts with the cellular substrate to yield a basic network that is refined via selection and elimination of synaptic connections, a process that is prolonged in humans. This knowledge provides essential insight into the pathogenesis of human-specific neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel H Geschwind
- Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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34
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Teffer K, Buxhoeveden DP, Stimpson CD, Fobbs AJ, Schapiro SJ, Baze WB, McArthur MJ, Hopkins WD, Hof PR, Sherwood CC, Semendeferi K. Developmental changes in the spatial organization of neurons in the neocortex of humans and common chimpanzees. J Comp Neurol 2013; 521:4249-59. [PMID: 23839595 PMCID: PMC4041080 DOI: 10.1002/cne.23412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Revised: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 06/28/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In adult humans the prefrontal cortex possesses wider minicolumns and more neuropil space than other cortical regions. These aspects of prefrontal cortex architecture, furthermore, are increased in comparison to chimpanzees and other great apes. In order to determine the developmental appearance of this human cortical specialization, we examined the spatial organization of neurons in four cortical regions (frontal pole [Brodmann's area 10], primary motor [area 4], primary somatosensory [area 3b], and prestriate visual cortex [area 18]) in chimpanzees and humans from birth to approximately the time of adolescence (11 years of age). Horizontal spacing distance (HSD) and gray level ratio (GLR) of layer III neurons were measured in Nissl-stained sections. In both human and chimpanzee area 10, HSD was significantly higher in the postweaning specimens compared to the preweaning ones. No significant age-related differences were seen in the other regions in either species. In concert with other recent studies, the current findings suggest that there is a relatively slower maturation of area 10 in both humans and chimpanzees as compared to other cortical regions, and that further refinement of the spatial organization of neurons within this prefrontal area in humans takes place after the postweaning periods included here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Teffer
- Anthropology Department, University of California, San Diego, 92093
| | | | - Cheryl D. Stimpson
- Anthropology Department, The George Washington University, Washington DC, 20052
| | | | - Steven J. Schapiro
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, 78602
| | - Wallace B. Baze
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, 78602
| | - Mark J. McArthur
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, 78602
| | - William D. Hopkins
- Institute for Neuroscience, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30303
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY
| | - Chet C. Sherwood
- Anthropology Department, The George Washington University, Washington DC, 20052
| | - Katerina Semendeferi
- Anthropology Department, University of California, San Diego, 92093
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, 92093
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35
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Buckner RL, Krienen FM. The evolution of distributed association networks in the human brain. Trends Cogn Sci 2013; 17:648-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2013.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 475] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Revised: 09/28/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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36
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Rubinstein M, de Souza FSJ. Evolution of transcriptional enhancers and animal diversity. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 368:20130017. [PMID: 24218630 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Deciphering the genetic bases that drive animal diversity is one of the major challenges of modern biology. Although four decades ago it was proposed that animal evolution was mainly driven by changes in cis-regulatory DNA elements controlling gene expression rather than in protein-coding sequences, only now are powerful bioinformatics and experimental approaches available to accelerate studies into how the evolution of transcriptional enhancers contributes to novel forms and functions. In the introduction to this Theme Issue, we start by defining the general properties of transcriptional enhancers, such as modularity and the coexistence of tight sequence conservation with transcription factor-binding site shuffling as different mechanisms that maintain the enhancer grammar over evolutionary time. We discuss past and current methods used to identify cell-type-specific enhancers and provide examples of how enhancers originate de novo, change and are lost in particular lineages. We then focus in the central part of this Theme Issue on analysing examples of how the molecular evolution of enhancers may change form and function. Throughout this introduction, we present the main findings of the articles, reviews and perspectives contributed to this Theme Issue that together illustrate some of the great advances and current frontiers in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Rubinstein
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, , C1428ADN Buenos Aires, Argentina
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37
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Kalinka AT, Kelava I, Lewitus E. Our robust intellect. Trends Genet 2013; 29:125-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2013.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Abstract
What evolutionary events led to the emergence of human cognition? Although the genetic differences separating modern humans from both non-human primates (for example, chimpanzees) and archaic hominins (Neanderthals and Denisovans) are known, linking human-specific mutations to the cognitive phenotype remains a challenge. One strategy is to focus on human-specific changes at the level of intermediate phenotypes, such as gene expression and metabolism, in conjunction with evolutionary changes in gene regulation involving transcription factors, microRNA and proximal regulatory elements. In this Review we show how this strategy has yielded some of the first hints about the mechanisms of human cognition.
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Kaas JH. The evolution of brains from early mammals to humans. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2012; 4:33-45. [PMID: 23529256 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The large size and complex organization of the human brain makes it unique among primate brains. In particular, the neocortex constitutes about 80% of the brain, and this cortex is subdivided into a large number of functionally specialized regions, the cortical areas. Such a brain mediates accomplishments and abilities unmatched by any other species. How did such a brain evolve? Answers come from comparative studies of the brains of present-day mammals and other vertebrates in conjunction with information about brain sizes and shapes from the fossil record, studies of brain development, and principles derived from studies of scaling and optimal design. Early mammals were small, with small brains, an emphasis on olfaction, and little neocortex. Neocortex was transformed from the single layer of output pyramidal neurons of the dorsal cortex of earlier ancestors to the six layers of all present-day mammals. This small cap of neocortex was divided into 20-25 cortical areas, including primary and some of the secondary sensory areas that characterize neocortex in nearly all mammals today. Early placental mammals had a corpus callosum connecting the neocortex of the two hemispheres, a primary motor area, M1, and perhaps one or more premotor areas. One line of evolution, Euarchontoglires, led to present-day primates, tree shrews, flying lemurs, rodents, and rabbits. Early primates evolved from small-brained, nocturnal, insect-eating mammals with an expanded region of temporal visual cortex. These early nocturnal primates were adapted to the fine branch niche of the tropical rainforest by having an even more expanded visual system that mediated visually guided reaching and grasping of insects, small vertebrates, and fruits. Neocortex was greatly expanded and included an array of cortical areas that characterize neocortex of all living primates. Specializations of the visual system included new visual areas that contributed to a dorsal stream of visuomotor processing in a greatly enlarged region of posterior parietal cortex and an expanded motor system and the addition of a ventral premotor area. Higher visual areas in a large temporal lobe facilitated object recognition, and frontal cortex included granular prefrontal cortex. Auditory cortex included the primary and secondary auditory areas that characterize prosimian and anthropoid primates today. As anthropoids emerged as diurnal primates, the visual system specialized for detailed foveal vision. Other adaptations included an expansion of prefrontal cortex and insular cortex. The human and chimpanzee-bonobo lineages diverged some 6-8 million years ago with brains that were about one third the size of modern humans. Over the last 2 million years, the brains of our more recent ancestors increased greatly in size, especially in the prefrontal, posterior parietal, lateral temporal, and insular regions. Specialization of the two cerebral hemispheres for related, but different functions became pronounced, and language and other impressive cognitive abilities emerged. WIREs Cogn Sci 2013, 4:33-45. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1206 This article is categorized under: Neuroscience > Anatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon H Kaas
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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40
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Konopka G, Friedrich T, Davis-Turak J, Winden K, Oldham MC, Gao F, Chen L, Wang GZ, Luo R, Preuss TM, Geschwind DH. Human-specific transcriptional networks in the brain. Neuron 2012; 75:601-17. [PMID: 22920253 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.05.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/31/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Understanding human-specific patterns of brain gene expression and regulation can provide key insights into human brain evolution and speciation. Here, we use next-generation sequencing, and Illumina and Affymetrix microarray platforms, to compare the transcriptome of human, chimpanzee, and macaque telencephalon. Our analysis reveals a predominance of genes differentially expressed within human frontal lobe and a striking increase in transcriptional complexity specific to the human lineage in the frontal lobe. In contrast, caudate nucleus gene expression is highly conserved. We also identify gene coexpression signatures related to either neuronal processes or neuropsychiatric diseases, including a human-specific module with CLOCK as its hub gene and another module enriched for neuronal morphological processes and genes coexpressed with FOXP2, a gene important for language evolution. These data demonstrate that transcriptional networks have undergone evolutionary remodeling even within a given brain region, providing a window through which to view the foundation of uniquely human cognitive capacities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Konopka
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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The lemur revolution starts now: the genomic coming of age for a non-model organism. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2012; 66:442-52. [PMID: 22982436 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2012.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2012] [Revised: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Morris Goodman was a revolutionary. Together with a mere handful of like-minded scientists, Morris established himself as a leader in the molecular phylogenetic revolution of the 1960s. The effects of this revolution are most evident in this journal, which he founded in 1992. Happily for lemur biologists, one of Morris Goodman's primary interests was in reconstructing the phylogeny of the primates, including the tooth-combed Lorisifomes of Africa and Asia, and the Lemuriformes of Madagascar (collectively referred to as the suborder Strepsirrhini). This paper traces the development of molecular phylogenetic and evolutionary genetic trends and methods over the 50-year expanse of Morris Goodman's career, particularly as they apply to our understanding of lemuriform phylogeny, biogeography, and biology. Notably, this perspective reveals that the lemuriform genome is sufficiently rich in phylogenetic signal such that the very earliest molecular phylogenetic studies - many of which were conducted by Goodman himself - have been validated by contemporary studies that have exploited advanced computational methods applied to phylogenomic scale data; studies that were beyond imagining in the earliest days of phylogeny reconstruction. Nonetheless, the frontier still beckons. New technologies for gathering and analyzing genomic data will allow investigators to build upon what can now be considered a nearly-known phylogeny of the Lemuriformes in order to ask innovative questions about the evolutionary mechanisms that generate and maintain the extraordinary breadth and depth of biological diversity within this remarkable clade of primates.
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