Scientists find a human-only gene that may help explain our brainpowerMicroglia are the brain's most abundant immune cells. They help protect the brain from harmful invaders, clear away damaged neurons, and support normal brain development. Researchers at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute have now found for the first time that human microglia, much like human neurons, mature far more slowly than comparable cells in other animals.
"This slow development may help human microglia influence the human brain in ways that enable our powerful cognitive abilities," — said Carlos Diaz-Salazar, PhD, the lead author of a new Neuron study on the subject.
During development, microglia influence which synapses neurons retain and which ones are eliminated. They can also make synapses more or less responsive, helping fine-tune communication within brain circuits.The new findings suggest that SRGAP2, one of several dozen genes that were duplicated specifically in humans, may help coordinate this slow developmental pace across multiple kinds of brain cells, including neurons and microglia. The researchers now want to determine exactly how the gene promotes neoteny in these cells and in other parts of the brain.
"We want to understand all the elements that help make up the human brain to understand what makes us unique from an evolutionary standpoint," — Dr. Polleux said.
@QSIMedia
