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Neuron
Perspective
Human Brain Evolution: Harnessing the Genomics(R)evolution to Link Genes, Cognition, and Behavior
Genevieve Konopka1,2,3,4 and Daniel H. Geschwind1,2,3,4,*1Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology2Center for Autism Research, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior3Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior4Department of Human GeneticsUniversity of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA*Correspondence: [email protected] 10.1016/j.neuron.2010.10.012
The evolution of the human brain has resulted in numerous specialized features including higher cognitiveprocesses such as language. Knowledge of whole-genome sequence and structural variation via high-throughput sequencing technology provides an unprecedented opportunity to view human evolution athigh resolution. However, phenotype discovery is a critical component of these endeavors and the use ofnontraditional model organisms will also be critical for piecing together a complete picture. Ultimately, theunion of developmental studies of the brain with studies of unique phenotypes in a myriad of species willresult in a more thorough model of the groundwork the human brain was built upon. Furthermore, these inte-grative approaches should provide important insights into human diseases.
Introduction: Genome Sequence and BeyondAttempts to understand the uniqueness of what it means to be
human necessarily start with delving into the properties of the
human brain. Genetics and genomics play a critical role in this
regard, because identifying the genetic basis of phenotypic
differences provides a causal foothold. Brain development,
from its circuitry to cell and dendritic morphology, is highly
dependent on the environment. Without genetic reference
points, it is challenging to ascribe observed differences between
CNS features in humans and our closest relatives, chimpanzees,
to the forces of evolution (whether neutral or adaptive), or to
differences in diet, lifestyle, or other environmental features.
Studying the brain from an evolutionary perspective and
combining these results with those from development and
pathology, connecting genetic variation to neural circuit devel-
opment and functioning, will yield the best approximation of
how natural forces shaped this organ. Aside from satisfying
basic curiosity about the origins of our abilities, such endeavors
have enormous implications for understanding human diseases
involving cognition and behavior, ranging from intellectual
disability and autism to neurodegenerative dementias.
On a macroscopic level, the evolution of the brain can be
examined using several approaches: neuroanatomical compari-
sons, behavioral comparisons, and the study of skeletal remains
from extinct species. These approaches are necessary for
building a context in which molecular and cellular comparisons
can be placed. In this era of genomics, we are poised to elabo-
rate the numerous divergent properties of the human brain by
collating gene expression and regulation data with phenotype
and behavioral data. Here, we discuss insights into the genetics
and genomics of human brain evolution generated through the
use of technological advances in expression and sequencing
platforms. These comparisons need to be interpreted carefully,
however, because experimental validation of evolutionary
studies is often challenging, and an openness to perform
cross-species comparative studies is needed. Nonetheless,
the integrated comparative analyses that can now be attained
using appropriate analytical and technical approaches are
providing fascinating insights into the story of human brain
evolution.
SequencingGenomes: ReadingOurEvolutionaryHistory
in the Code
The sequencing of the mouse genome followed quickly by the
human genome allowed us our first glimpse into evolutionary
comparisons at a genome-wide level (Lander et al., 2001; Venter
et al., 2001; Waterston et al., 2002). With at least 70 million years
interceding since the common ancestor of mouse and human,
however, there were obviously many differences found between
these genomes. Thus, the sequencing of the chimpanzee
genome a few years later filled in many of those gaps, demon-
strating approximately 4-fold more divergence between human
and chimpanzee than had previously been appreciated, mostly
due to structural chromosomal variation. Not unexpectedly,
these drafts are a true work in progress. For example, the chim-
panzee draft genome was based on one individual (Chimpanzee
Sequencing and Analysis Consortium, 2005). A recent reannota-
tion of the chimpanzee genome using new technology has
uncovered numerous novel transcripts (Wetterbom et al.,
2010). Moreover, the human genome was based on only a few
individuals, and until recently, only a handful of additional individ-
uals had undergone complete genome sequencing. Not unex-
pectedly, therefore, recent whole-genome sequencing has
uncovered much more diversity in the human genome than orig-
inally appreciated (Kidd et al., 2008; Pickrell et al., 2010). Thus,
until the completion of the 1000 genomes project, which aims
to identify most of the human genetic variants that have frequen-
cies of at least 1% of the population (www.1000genomes.org)
and beyond, any comparative analyses using the reference
Neuron 68, October 21, 2010 ª2010 Elsevier Inc. 231
Table 1. Sequenced Species that Will Improve Our Understanding of Brain Evolution
Common Name Species
Original Date
Sequenced Unique Features
Mouse Mus musculus 2002 Common model system for neurobehavioral/
neurogenetic experiments
Human Homo sapiens 2001
Rat Rattus norvegicus 2003 Common model system for neurobehavioral
experiments; now available for genetic
manipulations
Fly Drosophila melanogaster 2003 Common model system for neurobehavioral/
neurogenetic experiments
Worm Caenorhabditis elegans 2004 Aging and longevity
Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes 2005 Great ape; most similar to human on genome level
Zebrafish Danio rerio 2005 Easy to visualize brain development; behavior;
genetically malleable
Rhesus macaque Macaca mulatta 2006 Old world monkey; bred in the USA for behavior
and neurophysiology experiments
Honey bee Apis mellifera 2006 Social behavior; aggression
Orangutan Pongo pygmaeus abelii 2007 Great ape; useful for outgroup comparison
with human/chimp
Elephant shark Callorhinchus milii 2007 Outgroup for zebrafish and mouse comparisons
Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 2008 Evidence for vocalization and self-awareness
Zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata 2008 Patterned vocalization
Sea hare Aplysia californica 2008 Learning and memory
Elephant Loxodonta africana 2009 Evidence for vocalization and self-awareness
Pig Sus scrofa 2009 Gyrencephalic cortex
Bat Myotis lucifugus 2010 Echolocation
Ferret Mustela putorius furo in progress Gyrencephalic cortex
Cichlids Tilapia nilotica in progress ‘‘Natural’’ mutants for the study of evolution
Marmoset Callithrix jacchus in progress New world monkey
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human genome need to take into consideration the caveats
associated with incomplete documentation of the range of
normal variation. This is especially relevant given the observation
that a significant percentage of any individual’s genome is vari-
able and diverges from normal diploid copy number.
One of the most exciting advances in the realm of sequence
comparison was the unveiling of a first-pass Neandertal genome
(Briggs et al., 2009; Burbano et al., 2010; Green et al., 2010).
Though controversies such as experimental contamination and
unknown admixture effects had stymied confidence in the initial
analysis (Green et al., 2009; Wall and Kim, 2007), these data,
together with the sequencing of other hominid species (Krause
et al., 2010), should provide evidence for human-specific
features that have promoted our continued evolution and
survival. Although this represents a technical tour de force, inter-
pretation at the whole-genome level is limited by the relatively
sparse average fold-coverage published. Detailed analysis of
three genes in the Neandertal genome has been conducted:
that of FOXP2 (Krause et al., 2007), the melanocortin 1 receptor
(Lalueza-Fox et al., 2007), and microcephalin (Lari et al., 2010).
None of these studies provided any insight into potential unique
features of humans compared with those of Neandertals,
because all three genes had variation in line with known human
variation, suggesting that these changes occurred in an earlier
232 Neuron 68, October 21, 2010 ª2010 Elsevier Inc.
ancestor. However, targeted resequencing of the Neandertal
genome identified 83 genes with nonsynonymous substitutions
that became fixed on the human lineage (Burbano et al., 2010).
Functional analyses of the effect of these changes in the human
proteins need to be undertaken.
The study of nonhuman primates is critical for understanding
human brain evolution, and the use of multiple primate species
is necessary for identifying changes that occur specifically in
the human lineage (Khaitovich et al., 2006a; Preuss et al.,
2004; Varki et al., 2008). However, we expect that the inclusion
of nontraditional model organisms in the study of brain evolution
will further inform our understanding of specific brain processes
or phenotypes, as well as uncover lineage-specific changes.
To this end, a number of little-studied species on the molecular
level, such as honeybees, songbirds, and elephants, have
recently had their genomes sequenced (Table 1).
Once the complete sequences of genomes are in place, an
often-utilized approach for determining the evolution of any
given gene or region of the genome, which relies on direct
sequence comparisons between two species, can be under-
taken. Measures of positive selection are calculated by dividing
the number of nonsynonymous amino acid changes by what is
considered neutral background, typically the number of synony-
mous changes or intronic variants; values greater than one are
Figure 1. Combining ComparativeGenomics with Phenotype and ExpressionData Leads to Disease InsightsMeasures of positive selection are typically calcu-lated by dividing the number of nonsynonymouschanges (depicted in red) by the number of synon-ymous changes (depicted in blue); a value greaterthan one is used as evidence for positive selection.It should be emphasized that this is arbitrary andonly takes into account known protein codingregions. Screening genomes for genes under posi-tive selection is one important step; however, othermeasures such as links to behavior and expressionneed to be incorporated. Furthermore, a genedoes not have to have undergone positive selec-tion to be a disease-susceptibility gene. Otherchanges in evolution such as timing or location ofexpression could make a gene or signalingpathway vulnerable in disease.
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considered indicative of adaptive evolution (Figure 1). Of course,
much of what has been considered neutral is rapidly changing as
noncoding regions of the genome are identified as functional
(Varki et al., 2008). Additionally, for any specific gene, these
metrics of adaptive evolution based on straight sequence
comparisons do not take into account tissue specificity of
expression. For example, strong evidence of adaptive evolution
for brain-expressed genes at the gene level is often taken as
evidence for that gene’s involvement in brain evolution.
However, unless a gene is essentially brain specific, or some
other form of experimental evidence is provided (Konopka
et al., 2009), one cannot be certain that the sequence changes
have been selected due to their brain function, rather than their
function in other organ systems. Therefore, it is important to
directly study genomics in the tissue of interest and on multiple
levels, and not just examine the genome sequence, to be able
to make convincing evolutionary arguments.
In addition to straightforward sequence comparisons, there
are other comparisons that can be made at the genome level.
Characterization of evolutionary breakpoints has provided
a list of regions where chromosomal rearrangements may
have led to both loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutations
in genes important for mammalian evolution (Larkin et al., 2009;
Murphy et al., 2005). The initial study uncovered 40 breakpoints
that were likely primate-specific (Murphy et al., 2005), and
further analysis derived 44 primate-specific breakpoints with
two being human specific (Larkin et al., 2009). These data
suggest that the human genome has achieved a good measure
of stability, and therefore when new mutations arise within these
breakpoints, disease can often occur. Other data suggests that
some genomic rearrangements such as insertion of repetitive
elements or mitochondrial DNA sequences into the nuclear
genome were not the result of positive selection, but rather
neutral drift (Gherman et al., 2007). But ultimately, as the
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prescient hypothesis of King and Wilson
(1975) has suggested, changes at the
level of gene regulation are a greater
driver of diversity between humans and
chimpanzees than changes in coding
sequences alone.
To uncover the complexity of gene expression and regulation
during brain evolution, a multipronged approach needs to be
taken (Figure 2). First, the power of next-generation sequencing
(NGS) needs to be leveraged to ascertain the changing landscape
onmany levels: noncodingsequences,epigenetics, splicing, tran-
scriptional regulation, microRNA regulation, expression, and
ultimately translation. These data need to be obtained using
large-scale studies, appropriately analyzed, and completely inte-
grated. Second, a greater understandingof developmentalmech-
anisms needs to be unveiled, because these are likely integral to
how the brain adapted. Third, a multitude of organisms should
be investigated, not just traditional model organisms, and behav-
ioral phenotypes with expression data in these organisms need
to be combined. Many of these organisms are far more expert
than humans at certain functions that may be related to the
CNS, or have adapted to unique environments, so they provide
excellent substrates for the comparative investigation of brain
evolution. Finally, the incorporation of human brain disease attri-
butes will highlight the most recent steps in brain evolution, and
how they have yielded significant cognition and a more disease-
vulnerable organ (Crespi, 2010; Preuss et al., 2004; Vernier
et al., 2004).
Evo-GenoIt is difficult to fathom how the relatively small number of genes in
the human genome (a little over 20,000) has led to the highly
complex social organism that is human.Changes inmanyparam-
eters have built upon the archetypal mammalian brain to yield an
organof unprecedented complexity and versatility. Differences in
gene regulationandexpressionhave led to theemergenceof new
cell types and brain regions, and more remain to be discovered.
These, in turn, have resulted in new behaviors and phenotypes,
and have ultimately improved our cognitive abilities. Under-
standing themechanismsunderlying thesechanges in thehuman
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Figure 2. Multiple Layers of RegulationUnderlie Human Brain EvolutionMore than genomic comparisons need to beconsidered when building our understanding ofhuman brain evolution. Regulation at the levelof the epigenome (e.g., methylome), regulationof expression by changes in transcription or smallRNA regulation, novel isoforms through differentialsplicing, changes in regional and subcellularexpression, and posttranslational modifications(e.g., kinome) all need to be taken into account,and many of these changes can be queried usingNGS techniques. Also, the incorporation of animalmodels and cell-specific lines of inquiry need toundertaken. Finally, the integration of all of thesedata will lead to phenotype discovery and hypoth-esis-testing that ultimately will inform polymor-phism discovery in human brain diseases. In thismanner, modern neurogenetic investigations arenot only an exercise in advanced data analysis,but comprehensive data integration.
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brain from both a genomic and developmental perspective
should shed some light on the evolutionary process.
Gene Expression and Gene Splicing
Perhaps the most direct, truly genome-wide method for inves-
tigating evolutionary divergence in the brain is to measure
differences in gene expression levels. Several studies have con-
ducted comparative transcriptomic analyses in the brains of
primates (Oldham and Geschwind, 2009; Preuss et al., 2004).
Initial reports used microarrays for assessment and identified
a few hundred genes that differed between human and
chimpanzee brain (Caceres et al., 2003; Enard et al., 2002a;
Khaitovich et al., 2005; Khaitovich et al., 2004a). Further studies
have also utilized this approach of comparing the two species
using analysis of microarray data (Khaitovich et al., 2006b;
Nowick et al., 2009; Oldham et al., 2006; Somel et al., 2010).
One of the more salient findings was an enrichment of KRAB-
zinc finger transcription factors in human brain (Nowick et al.,
2009). These genes have already been linked to both brain
development and disease, and are therefore important for
further consideration in functional analyses. Another compelling
finding was the difference in gene expression with aging in the
human brain specifically as a potential mechanism for the
increased longevity of the human species (Somel et al., 2009).
In addition, the genes most correlated with aging are also those
demonstrating less evolutionary conservation (Somel et al.,
2010). These data suggest that positive selection is having
a significant effect on genes involved in aging, and likely
neurodegenerative susceptibility as well. Subcellular localiza-
tion of expression may also play a pivotal role in evolution. At
least one example, GLUD2, is a hominid-specific gene that
localizes specifically to mitochondria in comparison with the
ancestral form GLUD1 (Rosso et al., 2008). Because GLUD2
has acquired some brain-specific functions, this change in
localization may have been essential for these new properties
in the primate brain.
234 Neuron 68, October 21, 2010 ª2010 Elsevier Inc.
One of the difficulties inherent in analysis of gene expression
data is determining positive selection from the neutral back-
ground (Khaitovich et al., 2004b; Oldham and Geschwind,
2009), because standard methods for analysis of differential
expression cannot determine which changes are functional.
Here, gene network analysis may serve as a framework for
assessment of the functionality in changes in expression
(Oldham and Geschwind, 2009; Oldham et al., 2006) and has
been utilized to examine changes in gene coexpression
networks between humans and both chimpanzees (Oldham
et al., 2006) and mice (Miller et al., 2010). These analyses
produced several important insights into the human brain tran-
scriptome. The first insight was that gene connectivity in the
newly evolved cortex was less preserved in other species
compared with networks in the older caudate nucleus (Oldham
et al., 2006). In addition, this measure of differential network
connectivity between the species is more sensitive than differen-
tial expression in ascertaining evolutionary divergence (Miller
et al., 2010; Oldham et al., 2006). Finally, this approach is able
to pinpoint highly connected genes in human-specific modules
with known associations to human-specific neurodegenerative
disorders (Miller et al., 2010). Together, these studies highlight
the importance of applying unbiased analytical methods to
large-scale expression data sets to yield novel underlying struc-
ture (Geschwind and Konopka, 2009).
One of the interesting areas of convergence in gene expres-
sion studies is the identification of energy metabolism-related
genes (Caceres et al., 2003; Goodman et al., 2009; Grossman
et al., 2001), mitochondria, and other related pathways suggest-
ing differences in cellular energetics between humans and
nonhuman primates (Goodman and Sterner, 2010; Preuss
et al., 2004). Some of these pathways, especially mitochondria,
are also related to human aging and neurodegenerative disease
(Miller et al., 2008). This suggests the interesting hypothesis that
a potential consequence of having a human cerebral cortex and
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increased energy demands may be a predisposition to neurode-
generative conditions.
While some amount of diversity in the brain is certainly driven
by changes in the amount, timing, and location of gene expres-
sion, it has become increasingly apparent that changes in the
splicing of the mRNAs themselves are dramatically different
among species, even among primates. Comparisons of splicing
in primate transcriptomes have been conducted using both exon
arrays for brain tissue (Calarco et al., 2007; Irimia et al., 2009;
Lin et al., 2010) and NGS for liver tissue (Blekhman et al.,
2010). One study found that human-specific splicing is likely
regulated by cis-regulatory elements (Lin et al., 2010), and
another found that although similar percentages of genes
between humans and chimpanzees are alternatively spliced,
these do not significantly overlap the differentially expressed
genes (Calarco et al., 2007). Similar analyses are needed using
NGS in the brains of primates, because NGS will allow for the
discovery of previously unannotated isoforms.
Targets of known specific splicing factors such as Nova1/2
have also been examined in vivo at a genome-wide level in the
brain, whereas a bioinformatic approach has been taken to
examine the targets of the neuronal splicing factors Fox-1
(A2BP1) and Fox-2 (RBM9) in brain (Licatalosi et al., 2008; Ule
et al., 2005; Zhang et al., 2008; 2010). A discovery-based
approach has also been taken to identify novel CNS-specific
splicing factors. Using this methodology, a neural-specific
splicing factor, nSR100, was uncovered and shown to be integral
for neuronal differentiation both by the identification of its target
genes, which are important for CNS development, and by in vivo
loss of function studies (Calarco et al., 2009). Loss of Magoh,
a gene involved in RNA splicing, leads to a disorganized, micro-
cephalic brain with fewer neurons (Silver et al., 2010). Moreover,
splicing ofMAGOH itself has a human-specific pattern (Lin et al.,
2010). Another example of how differential splicing can affect
brain function can be found upon studying the Liprin-alpha
protein family. These proteins have essential roles in both
dendrites and synapses, and human-specific patterns of splicing
occur, and are likely to regulate human-specific functions of this
family of genes (Zurner and Schoch, 2009). Together, these data
point to a critical role both for splicing in general and of genes
such as MAGOH and Liprin in the evolution of the human brain.
Another level of speciesdivergence lies in the regulationof gene
expression. Understanding epigenetic regulation in the nervous
system is an area of active study that should provide a first level
of input into potential differences in regulation (Borrelli et al.,
2008; Dulac, 2010). Changes in the epigenome, which include
methylation andhistonemodifications, canderive fromnumerous
sources including the environment, stress, and neuronal activity.
In addition, epigenetics can lead to transgenerational evolution
through effects on gene expression (Sharma and Singh, 2009).
Other work has focused on identifying either cis-regulatory
elements that have undergone positive selection, or the acquisi-
tion of novel transcriptional activity with evolution. Elegant work
has detected evolutionary conserved noncoding sequences
(CNSs) (Pennacchio et al., 2006), followed by a further refined
analysis to identify specific human-accelerated conserved non-
coding sequences (haCNSs) (Prabhakar et al., 2006, 2008) and
human accelerated regions (HARs) (Pollard et al., 2006a,
2006b).Ofnote,haCNSsareenrichednearneuronal cell adhesion
genes (Prabhakar et al., 2006), genes spatially differentially ex-
pressed in human fetal brain (Johnson et al., 2009), and genes
differentially regulated by human and chimpanzee FOXP2
(Konopka et al., 2009). One haCNS, HACNS1, has been shown
to be important for human-specific digit and limb patterning,
and therefore may have been instrumental in the development
of features such as opposable thumbs in humans (Prabhakar
et al., 2008). The most significant HAR, HAR1, forms an RNA
gene that is expressed in Cajal-Retzius neurons (see below) in
human fetal brain (Pollard et al., 2006b). Thus, the importance of
newly evolved noncoding elements in the human genome cannot
be underestimated in terms of their potential for regulating critical
processes during brain development.
A well-characterized example of differential transcriptional
activity in evolutionary terms is the study of the transcription
factor FOXP2. This gene has undergone accelerated evolution
along the human lineage due to changes at two amino acids
(Enard et al., 2002b), and pathogenic variants of FOXP2 have
been found in people with a specific form of verbal dyspraxia
(Fisher and Scharff, 2009; Lai et al., 2001). However, FOXP2 is
also highly expressed in the lung, so changes at the genome level
cannot definitively be assigned to changes in brain function. Here
is where experimental tests of changes at the genome level are
important. In this regard, support for the relationship of the
sequence changeswith brain evolutionwasprovidedbycompar-
isons of expression of the human form of FOXP2 in human cells
versus the chimpanzee form. This difference led to a different
transcriptional program, and thesedifferentially expressedgenes
significantly overlapwith differentially expressed genes in human
and chimpanzee brains (Konopka et al., 2009). Remarkably,
differentially expressed genes included many involved in cranio-
facial development, suggesting coevolution of the CNS capacity
for language with the vocal apparatus in humans (Konopka et al.,
2009). Furthermore, mice expressing the human FOXP2 in place
of the mouse gene display novel behavioral phenotypes,
including changes in ultrasonic vocalization, and differences in
neuronal morphology and activity (Enard et al., 2009). Together,
these studies suggest that positive selection of even one tran-
scription factor can potentially have a dramatic difference in the
evolution of neuronal signaling and circuitry.
Studies of Primates and Other Vertebrate Species
and the Importance of Outgroups
Although all of the above studies have produced useful informa-
tion as to which genes are different in the human brain, they are
not able to determine which genes changed specifically along
the human lineage unless an outgroup (e.g., rhesus macaque)
is included. The use of an outgroup allows one to identify which
lineage the observed changes occurred upon. In comparisons of
humans and chimpanzees, another primate with a common
ancestor, such as rhesus macaque, is often included. Thus,
any difference that holds between humans and chimpanzees
as well as humans and macaques (but not chimpanzees and
macaques) can be considered to have occurred more recently
in time on the human lineage. The closer in evolutionary time
two species are to one another, the more confident one can be
about the relevance of the comparison. A few brain gene expres-
sion studies comparing humans and chimpanzees have indeed
Neuron 68, October 21, 2010 ª2010 Elsevier Inc. 235
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included outgroup data (Caceres et al., 2003; Enard et al., 2002a;
Khaitovich et al., 2006b; Somel et al., 2009); however, the
majority of these gene expression reports were still limited by
either the number of brain regions or samples used in the anal-
ysis. Moreover, cross-hybridization issues reduced the number
of transcripts examined because the chimpanzee samples
were queried on human microarrays. To alleviate this potential
bias, NGS, which is agnostic to species, is now being used to
conduct comparative transcriptome analysis by directly
sequencing all expressed RNAs (RNA-seq). At least two
RNA-seq studies have been completed comparing gene expres-
sion in the brains of humans, chimpanzees, and macaques and
have uncovered noncoding RNAs in the human lineage with
potential functions in directing gene expression (Babbitt et al.,
2010; Xu et al., 2010). All of these reports are important for under-
standing human-specific patterns of expression; however, as
will become evident below, different cells and areas of the brain
conduct differentially evolved functions. Therefore, large-scale
comparative expression analyses of many more brain regions
are critical. Another vertebrate outgroup that may be critical for
understanding brain development is the elephant shark. This
vertebrate can be used for comparison with other bony
vertebrates such as the mouse and zebrafish. In fact, the
elephant shark genome is more similar to the human genome
than the zebrafish genome is to the human genome (Venkatesh
et al., 2007). A recent study identified the homologous Dlx
enhancer in the elephant shark genome, and showed that this
enhancer had similar activity to the mouse enhancer in the fore-
brain but also displayed some unique characteristics (MacDon-
ald et al., 2010). Further comparative expression studies using
species such as the elephant shark should provide additional
insights into unique and conserved brain evolution pathways in
jawed vertebrates.
Moving from Tissue to Cells and Beyond: Cellular,
Synapse, and Circuit Phenotype Discovery
Cellular phenotype discovery is a critical aspect of the human
evolutionary-genomics enterprise in this age of molecular and
cellular neurobiology. Little is understood about the differences
between cell types, such as neurons and glia, and key aspects
of neuronal morphology, such as dendritic structures and the
synapse, between humans and other vertebrates. Genomic
investigations provide essentially unlimited opportunities for
foundational investigations in this regard.
Though it is debatable as to whether the pronounced increase
in glia along the human lineage was more important for brain
evolution than neuronal modifications, due to the unique physi-
ology of neurons, investigations into the specific evolution of
neurons are an essential line of inquiry. This approach has
been thoughtfully undertaken at the proteomic level. Compar-
ison of the synaptic proteome in mouse and fly revealed core
proteins that were further extended and elaborated upon in
vertebrates to yield synapses with increasing functional abilities
(Emes et al., 2008). Moreover, a significant number of proteins in
the core synaptic proteome are enriched for genes already
known to be implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders,
most prominently schizophrenia (Fernandez et al., 2009). This
explains the debilitating effects that are seen when disruption
to these genes occurs. Combining these proteomic data with
236 Neuron 68, October 21, 2010 ª2010 Elsevier Inc.
that from genomic and transcriptomic studies will provide
a greater understanding of how translational regulation may
also be playing a role in divergent evolution. Furthermore, exam-
ination of the synaptic proteome needs to be carried out in
human and nonhuman primate brain, preferably during brain
development, to identify any human-specific adaptations.
An even more challenging question in terms of human speciali-
zation iswhether there are different amounts or functions of partic-
ular neurons in the human brain. Even in the well-studied mouse,
wehaveonly justbegun toappreciateandunderstand thediversity
of neuronal subtypes in the brain. Thus, knowledge of neuronal
subclasses in humans and other species is even sparser. Here,
we illustrate two human neuronal subtypes with potential implica-
tions in human brain evolution. The first examples are von Econ-
omo neurons (VENs) (von Economo, 1926) that are only present
in the anterior cingulate cortex and frontoinsular cortex, regions
important for social behavior. These neurons are present in great-
est numbers in the human brain, and have only been identified in
great apes, cetaceans, and elephants (Allman et al., 2010; Butti
et al., 2009; Hakeem et al., 2009; Nimchinsky et al., 1999), all
species that have passed tests for self-awareness (Byrne and
Bates, 2010; Craig, 2009; Povinelli et al., 1993). There is a signifi-
cant reduction in the number of VENs in the brains of patients
with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) (Seeley et al., 2006), a disease
that presentswith deterioration of social function,whereas there is
an increase in the number of VENs in the brains of autistic patients
(Santos et al., 2010), a disease with dysfunctional social interac-
tions. It is therefore possible that VENs represent a specialized
class of neurons with a role in social interactions. Though expres-
sion of a few genes has been described in VENs (Allman et al.,
2010; Allman et al., 2005), targeted whole-genome expression
profiling of VENs could provide some insight into their evolution
and function in the human brain.
Another specialized neuronal cell type that is not unique to
primate, but displays differential characteristics along the
primate lineage, is the Cajal-Retzius neuron. These cells, as
well as Reelin, which is expressed in these cells, are critical for
cortical lamination (Marın-Padilla, 1998). There is an increase in
Reelin along the primate lineage (Abellan et al., 2010a; Zecevic
and Rakic, 2001), and LIM-homeodomain transcription factors
also display differential expression in Cajal-Retzius neurons in
the cortex of multiple species (Abellan et al., 2010a, 2010b).
Finally, though a few studies have examined gene expression
profiles specifically in these neurons (Soriano and Del Rıo,
2005), agnostic, developmental, time course, whole-genome
expression studies in multiple species are warranted to identify
the entire coterie of primate and human-specific expression
patterns. In addition, cross-species comparisons of neuronal
plasticity, activity-dependent gene expression, and dendritic
structures are also needed.
Brain Size Isn’t Everything, but It Is Relevant
While clearly a relatively gross phenotype, brain size is correlated
with overall intellectual function (Deaner et al., 2007; Roth and
Dicke, 2005; Rushton and Ankney, 2009). So, the identification
of genes involved in brain size has also provided insight into the
molecular mechanisms underlying human brain evolution.
However, one logical fallacy is that the relativelyweakbut positive
correlation between brain size and intelligence means that every
Neuron
Perspective
gene contributing to brain size is related to intelligence, or to
its evolution. These are related but independent phenotypes.
Many genes contributing to brain size are not expected to be
related to intelligence. Study of common genetic variation in
each of these genes to assess its contributions to normal varia-
tion in brain size, and to intelligence in turn, will be necessary.
Several genetic loci associatedwithmicrocephalywere first iden-
tified followed by the further identification of mutations in several
genes in these regions including ASPM, CDK5RAP2, CENPJ,
MCPH1, SLC25A19, and STIL. Interestingly, there is some
evidence for positive selection of ASPM and MCPH1 in humans
(Evans et al., 2005; Mekel-Bobrov et al., 2005); however, other
reports have suggested different factors as the driving force for
variation in these genes (Currat et al., 2006; Timpson et al.,
2007; Woods et al., 2006; Yu et al., 2007). This controversy high-
lights the difficulty in conducting comparative genomic studies
and drawing conclusions about the evolutionary implications. A
recent report used the new technology of whole-exome
sequencing to define the causative gene in one microcephaly
locus, WDR62 (Bilguvar et al., 2010). Of note, WDR62 is ex-
pressed in the nucleus of neural progenitors and therefore may
be important for regulating the transition from precursor to post-
mitotic neuron. Loss-of-function studies in model systems
should address this potential mechanism.
Another parameter with a potential effect on brain size is the
control of the cell cycle in neural progenitor pools (Kriegstein
et al., 2006). Changes in cell cycle duration in these cells in
primates are thought to be one adaptive mechanism for the
increase in neocortical size in primates (Dehay and Kennedy,
2007; Rakic, 1995). Area-specific modulation of cell cycle length
can also result in differing sensitivities bewteen proliferation and
differentiation signals (Lukaszewicz et al., 2005). In vivo manipu-
lation of genes important in cell cycle progression results in
mouse cortical tissue subsuming a thickened, more primate-like
phenotype (Chenn andWalsh, 2002; Pilaz et al., 2009). Recently,
a primate-specific PAX6 target, RFPL1, was shown to influence
cell cycle progression with a potential implication for this function
in brain development (Bonnefont et al., 2010). Themicrocephaly-
related genes ASPM and Mcph1 are also involved in regulating
brain size through mitotic spindle activity (Bond et al., 2002) and
cell cycle progression (Xu et al., 2004), respectively. The identifi-
cation of additional primate or human-specific mRNA patterns
for genes involved in cell cycle progression should permit further
study of the role of the cell cycle in the evolution of the brain, and
regional differences in expression are probably also key.
Certain human-specific expression patterns may also result in
specialized cell types that underlie cortical size. The recent
demonstration of outer subventricular zone (OSVZ) cells under-
going asymmetric division to generate neurons is of great
interest due to the substantial increase in the number of OSVZ
neurons along the primate lineage (Fietz et al., 2010; Hansen
et al., 2010). One of these reports also demonstrated the exis-
tence of OSVZ-derived neurons in the cortex of ferret. Because
the ferret has a gyrencephalic cortex, this supports the intriguing
hypothesis that OSVZ progenitors are a critical determinant of
brain folding. Thus, the increase in the number of OSVZ progen-
itors in human brain may have been instrumental in generating
a larger brain due to an increase in surface area from folding.
Although the function of a number of genes involved in brain
folding (e.g., LIS1, DCX, and RLN) has been actively studied in
rodent brain, the mouse brain is lissencephalic and therefore
does not lend itself to studies of brain folding. Thus, several
groups have been using either ferret, as mentioned above, or
pig. To this end, a recent report detailed tissue-specific
transcriptomic findings in the ferret brain (Bruder et al., 2010).
Another group examined gene expression in the pig cortex
before and after the onset of convolution using microarrays
and identified differentially expressed genes with a potential
role in cortical folding (Nielsen et al., 2010). Manipulation of these
genes in a genetically tractable organism such as mouse should
provide some mechanistic information on the involved signaling
pathways. Furthermore, deep sequencing of both the pig and
ferret genomes (Table 1) should also assist in interpreting future
gene expression studies using NGS in these species.
Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, while brain size and
brain folding are relevant to the evolution of the brain, it is clear
that the expansion of specific regions in the primate brain has
had a tremendous impact on human brain evolution. In
particular, the increase in the number of association cortex areas
and the development of the prefrontal cortex has been instru-
mental for cognitive abilities (Krubitzer, 2007; Krubitzer and
Kaas, 2005). Again, regional size is not necessarily the important
factor, but it is the evolution of the cortical networks among the
prefrontal cortex and other cortical areas that has likely driven
adaptations in cognition (Semendeferi et al., 2002). This also
includes the development of perisylvian cortical asymmetries
related to language (Geschwind and Miller, 2001; see below).
In addition, the expression and timing of expression of particular
genes within specific regions is also critical for the development
of specific cortical areas (Krubitzer and Kaas, 2005). Examples of
genes with critical roles in arealization include Emx2, Pax6, and
COUP-TFI (Nr2f1) (Krubitzer, 2007). Not surprisingly, variation
in some of these genes leads to cognitive deficits including schi-
zencephaly (EMX2) (Brunelli et al., 1996; Faiella et al., 1997) and
cerebellar ataxia and intellectual disability (Gillespie syndrome;
PAX6) (Graziano et al., 2007; Ticho et al., 2006). A better
understanding of the genes important for arealization inmamma-
lian brain evolution should provide insight into the gene networks
underlying higher cognition.
Evo-DevoBecause ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny to some degree, it is
critical to study the developing human brain. Moreover, proper
arealization or regionalization during brain development is neces-
sary for setting up the brain circuitry needed for higher cognitive
functions. Therefore, the elucidation of regional expression
patterns during human brain development and comparison of
these patterns to those in other species is an important aim.
One of the caveats to this approach is the paucity of fetal human
and great ape brain tissue. Despite this challenge, a recent report
examined gene expression using exon microarrays in 13 regions
in human fetal brain (Johnsonet al., 2009). Almost one-third of ex-
pressed genes are either regionally differentially expressed and/
or differentially spliced. In addition, a significant number of differ-
entially expressed genes have proximal noncoding regions that
have undergone accelerated evolution along the human lineage.
Neuron 68, October 21, 2010 ª2010 Elsevier Inc. 237
Neuron
Perspective
These data suggest that positively selected regulatory elements
may have had a significant impact on driving human brain region-
alization and thus, human cognition. Another study examined
gene expression patterns in perisylvian cortex by comparing
two regions in human fetal brain and identified numerous differ-
entially expressed genes, including several patterning or cell
adhesion molecules (Abrahams et al., 2007). Of note, CNTNAP2
was significantly enriched in human frontal cortex yet did not
show enrichment in rodent cortex. Because variation in
CNTNAP2 is associated with both language endophenotypes
(Alarcon et al., 2008) and autism spectrum disorder (Arking
et al., 2008; Bakkaloglu et al., 2008), this specific pattern of
expression in frontal cortex suggests an instrumental role for
CNTNAP2 in cortical circuitry disrupted in autism, a human-
specific disorder. The spatial overlap of noncoding RNAs with
protein-coding mRNAs may also be playing a role in brain evolu-
tion. A significant number of noncoding RNAs are coexpressed
with adjacent mRNAs specifically in the brain (Ponjavic et al.,
2009). These spatiotemporal pairs denote another level of regula-
tion in the brain that needs to be fully appreciated when attempt-
ing to dissect out the drivers of brain evolution.
The next higher order of brain development that may have
had a significant impact on brain evolution is the lateralization
of the brain. While there is evidence for brain lateralization in
other species (Bisazza et al., 1998), higher cognitive processes,
for example language, which is typically left hemisphere lateral-
ized in right-handers (in the majority; Galaburda et al., 1978),
show remarkable laterality in the human cerebral cortex. Thus,
understanding the process of cerebral lateralization at the
molecular level should provide insight into this feature likely
adapted during evolution for novel cognitive functions in
humans. Several studies have examined whether there are
asymmetrically expressed genes in the hemispheres of the
developing human brain (Johnson et al., 2009; Sun et al.,
2005). Although a number of candidate genes have been uncov-
ered (Sun et al., 2005), it is likely that the process of cerebral
lateralization is actually imparted at an earlier time point in
development (i.e., first trimester), via signals from the underlying
mesoderm (Geschwind and Miller, 2001). In addition to gene
expression, asymmetry has been examined using both neuro-
anatomical methods and neuroimaging techniques, such as
MRI and diffusor tensor imaging (DTI), which can trace the
pattern of white matter tracts in the brain. While both humans
and chimpanzees have asymmetrical brains at the levels of
both gray and white matter (Cantalupo et al., 2009; Hopkins
et al., 2008; Schenker et al., 2010), at least one study has
uncovered a human-specific white matter pattern in the arcuate
fasciculus, a tract important for language (Rilling et al., 2008).
Thus, although the acquisition of an asymmetrical brain
occurred far back in terms of evolutionary time, the further elab-
oration of an asymmetric cerebral cortex with new changes in
gene expression on the human lineage may have been instru-
mental in the development of spoken language.
Evo-PhenoUsing Animal Models to Study Language Evolution
One of the most challenging phenotypes to model and study in
terms of evolution is language (see Newbury and Monaco,
238 Neuron 68, October 21, 2010 ª2010 Elsevier Inc.
2010, this issue). A number of organisms exhibit some form of
vocal communication, but human language is thought to be
unique. One of the more salient human-specific features of
language is the use of recursion, or embedding ideas within
one another. This feature likely co-opted the evolving working
memory system present in lower organisms to expound upon
the new language function. Another human-specific language
feature is the use of language to teach an extrinsic skill or to
use language in the development of theory of mind (Penn
et al., 2008; Premack, 2007).
Two basic genetic approaches can be taken: identification of
common genetic variation and identification of rare, Mendelian
mutations that alter human language. Few common variants
related to language have been identified. Notable exceptions
include variation in LRRTM1 (Francks et al., 2007) that has
been related to brain asymmetry, and CNTNAP2, in which
common variation contributes to language endophenotypes,
such as nonword repetition in humans (Alarcon et al., 2008;
Vernes et al., 2008). Remarkably, CNTNAP2 is regulated by the
transcription factor FOXP2, one of the few genes associated
with Mendelian forms of speech and language dysfunction in hu-
mans (Fisher et al., 2003; Vernes et al., 2008). These data provide
the first glimmer of the emergence of a potential molecular
pathway downstream of FOXP2 that is likely related to develop-
ment of frontal-striatal circuits involved in language learning and
function.
The uniquely human nature of language and evidence for
accelerated evolution of FOXP2 on the human lineage
seriously challenge the use of animal models for the study of
speech and language evolution. However, the human brain
was built on the foundation of its vertebrate ancestors’ nervous
systems (Krubitzer, 2007; Krubitzer and Kaas, 2005), and there
are many processes, such as vocal motor learning, that are
shared in other organisms. In this regard, studies in nonhuman
models have highlighted the conserved features of FOXP2.
Both FoxP1 and FoxP2 show overlapping and highly parallel
expression in cortical basal ganglia circuits involved in vocal
motor learning in the songbird and human fetal brain (Teramitsu
et al., 2004). Remarkably, lentiviral-mediated knockdown of
FoxP2 in the zebra finch has demonstrated that FoxP2 is integral
for learned song production (Haesler et al., 2007). Loss-of-
function studies in mouse have demonstrated that Foxp2 is
necessary for proper ultrasonic vocalizations in newborn mice
(Shu et al., 2005). Further studies using conditional Foxp2
knockout mice should investigate whether Foxp2 is needed for
socially mediated adult vocalizations. Thus, because of the
conservation of phenotypes from songbird to mouse to people,
FoxP2 is not necessarily ‘‘language specific.’’ What is likely is
that FoxP2 has an important role in sensory-motor integration
involving striatal circuits, and in humans this has evolved to serve
an important role in language (Teramitsu et al., 2004; White et al.,
2006). FoxP2 stands as an example of the intricacies of attempt-
ing to study evolution, in particular human-specific phenotypes,
in lower organisms. It can be very difficult to extrapolate these
findings to human features. Nevertheless, these types of
comparative phenotype-genotype studies will inform our under-
standing of the CNS inmany species and ultimately the evolution
of the human brain.
Neuron
Perspective
Evo-PathoIt is interesting to speculate that perhaps one untoward
consequence of the highly evolved human brain has been the
emergence of human-specific neurodegenerative and neuro-
psychiatric diseases (Crespi et al., 2007; Crespi, 2010; Dean,
2009; Preuss et al., 2004; Vernier et al., 2004). Combining an
evolutionary perspective with an understanding of the pathology
of these diseases should uncover the mechanisms that have led
to the development of these diseases in the human lineage.
Expression studies of disease-related genes in human brain
have begun to elucidate human-specific patterns of gene
expression in terms of both levels and localization. An example
of this type of approach is again exemplified in the study of
CNTNAP2 (Alarcon et al., 2008), which is enriched in frontal
pole, an area of the brain critical for executive function
(Abrahams et al., 2007). The results of human brain expression
profiling studies thus far (Johnson et al., 2009) suggest that
comparison of comprehensive gene expression maps in mature
and developing human brain with mouse and nonhuman
primates will provide enormous value.
One of the greatest challenges in studying brain evolution is
the use of the most appropriate model systems. An issue with
incorporating disease-relevant information is that many model
organisms do not succumb to the same diseases that humans
are susceptible to. For example, it has been exceedingly difficult
to model neurodegeneration in mice. A recent study suggests
that differences in gene expression networks and thus gene
function may at least partially explain this observation, consid-
ering that genes such as PSEN1, which causes a dominant
disease in humans, but not in mouse, show significant expres-
sion divergence (Miller et al., 2010). The absence of certain brain
circuits in mice, including certain prefrontal regions, also chal-
lenges the development of mouse models of human neuropsy-
chiatric diseases that involve these areas (Preuss, 2000).
Even more difficult to study than disease in humans is the
evolution of positive attributes such as creativity or intelligence.
Definitional issues certainly challenge this area of research.
Nevertheless, one recent study used the power of comparative
evolutionary genomics to identify genes under positive selection
in the human genome (Bochdanovits et al., 2009). Association of
these genes with intelligence was then conducted, and
a polymorphism in ADRB2 was found to be significantly associ-
ated with cognitive ability. Further functional analyses of this
gene needs to be carried out to place it within the context of brain
development and/or neuronal signaling pathways.
Summary and Future DirectionsTraditional comparative genomics are core tools for the study of
evolution, because changes in the genome may allow one to
determine causality with relation to specific phenotypic differ-
ences between species. However, one also needs to consider
other forces affecting changes on the genome or phenotype
level, such as environmental exposures and nutrition. Moreover,
in the study of the brain, we need to be cognizant of cell- and
circuit-specific factors, as well as emergent properties of human
higher cognition and behavior, such as social and cultural buffers
that could be acting in concert with changes on other levels
(Varki et al., 2008).
Animal model organisms play a crucial role in neuroscience.
However, one unfortunate trend has been a de-emphasis on
studies of human brain. Advances in genomics and genetics
and availability of human brain tissue, coupled with noninvasive
methods for the study of brain function, provide enormous
opportunities. The critical challenge is to embrace the evolu-
tionary differences between humans and model organisms,
and use them as a platform for discovery, rather than pretending
that they don’t exist. This will permit integration of the large
amount of data produced in model organisms with an under-
standing of human brain function, so as to understand the true
relevance of these data to humans. Comparative functional
genomic investigations will provide a molecular basis for
elucidation of brain circuit evolution, and the evolution of human
cognition and behavior.
The technical advance of microarrays allowed unprecedented
access to differential gene expression in brain evolution.
However, due to the biases and static nature of the information
able to be queried using microarrays, this technology is limiting
for cross-species comparisons. For comparative genomic
purposes, NGS is rapidly making expression array issues of
historic interest, but NGS still requires a draft genome for align-
ment. Therefore, as NGS becomes less expensive and computa-
tional resources improve, even individual labs will be able to
conduct de novo sequencing of their unique model organism.
The focus in evolutionary genomics needs to extend work in
traditional experimental organisms such as mouse, rat,
Drosophila, et cetera into a deeper appreciation of the myriad
organisms with a CNS, especially those that might have unique
brain and behavior functions. For example, recent deep
sequencing of small RNAs inmarineworms identified ancient mi-
croRNAs that may have been essential for the evolution of the
CNS (Christodoulou et al., 2010).
As always, integration of multiple levels of genomic, regula-
tory, and RNA and protein expression, while challenging, is
a must. Genome-wide transcription factor binding studies
(ChIP-seq), sometimes combined with RNA-seq, are just begin-
ning to be conducted (Kim et al., 2010; Visel et al., 2009).
However, these and other studies are really only beginning to
scratch the surface of what NGS can uncover, such as allele-
specific expression (Meaburn et al., 2010; Schalkwyk et al.,
2010). Additionally, it will be useful to define molecular pathways
based on functional genomic studies that identify gene sets
expressed in either a tissue- or cell-specific manner (Doyle
et al., 2008), and use these unbiased pathways as a basis for
studying genetic pathway associations in normal cognition and
disease. Such studies will aid in broadening our acceptance of
the role of particular genes in specific tissues.
Phenotype discovery, in general, is a huge area of need within
the field of evolutionary genomics. Thus, the use of imaging data
analysis to determine phenotypes has been essential for this
progress. Because imaging is one of the few windows into the
brain we can utilize in living patients, it is critical that we harness
this technology in combination with genomic data. Perhaps the
greatest challenge for the evolutionary neuroscientist is to estab-
lish how to combine data from functional genomics studies with
behavioral data, again, in particular, imaging data, and genome-
wide association study information. Such integration relies on
Neuron 68, October 21, 2010 ª2010 Elsevier Inc. 239
Neuron
Perspective
being able to determine quantitative, behaviorally relevant
phenotypes. Recent work in the identification of ‘‘phenologs,’’
or phenotypes that arise from disruption of orthologous genes,
is one approach to ascertain such data (McGary et al., 2010).
Through this methodology, phenologs can be detected for
diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS; human-
yeast), autism (human-mouse), and intellectual disability
(human-Arabidopsis). Combining this approach with other data
from model systems will identify gene networks essential for
normal human brain function that can be further explored in
lower organisms.
The genomics revolution now permits us to perform key
experiments that could rapidly advance our understanding of
the evolution of higher cognition. But, one caveat for many of
the evolution studies discussed above is the fundamental
assumptions that are made in drawing the particular conclusion
of each study. In particular, we need to be cautious about over-
interpretation of any findings in the setting of uncertain models.
Interspecies comparisons as far as human and mouse were
important first steps, but some basic assumptions may not
have been met and the positive selection of nervous system
genes in humans, as initially suggested (Dorus et al., 2004), is
not yet well established. For example, this and other studies
need to consider the role of relaxation of constraint, or reducing
the restrictions of amino acid changes, rather than only adaptive
evolution in the primate brain. One hypothesis is that relaxation
of constraint presented the occasion for adaptive evolution to
occur. Furthermore, other fundamental characteristics such as
mutation rates and huge differences in population history, gene
choice, and choice of arbitrary relaxed thresholds for deter-
mining protein evolution (Dorus et al., 2004) may hamper
interpretation of these types of comparative studies. In fact,
a number of studies have used other metrics in their analyses,
and there seems to be little consensus in the field as to whether
human brain genes have indeed undergone accelerated evolu-
tion or not (Bakewell et al., 2007; Clark et al., 2003; Nielsen
et al., 2005; Shi et al., 2006). It is notable that studies that assess
the genome in an unbiased manner, rather than picking only one
arbitrary gene set, show no evidence for adaptive evolution in
brain genes overall (e.g., Nielsen et al., 2007; Shi et al., 2006).
Another example is the pathbreaking study of a humanized
Foxp2 mouse (Enard et al., 2009). In this case, are the assump-
tions about evolution made reasonable, and how can we know?
What are the experiments that could even test this? We cannot
obviously expect to generate a talking mouse, and yet, there is
no doubt that many experiments needed to more fully explore
Foxp2 function can be done in mouse and other model organ-
isms. The same issues are multiplied when we begin to study
gene-gene interactions and molecular circuits. Rather than
avoiding this complexity, it will be crucial to embrace the many
levels of analyses and cross-species comparisons that are
necessary if we truly expect to advance to a new level of under-
standing of human brain evolution.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work is supported by a grant from the NIMH (R37MH60233-06A1) toD.H.G. G.K. is supported by an A.P. Giannini Foundation Medical Research
240 Neuron 68, October 21, 2010 ª2010 Elsevier Inc.
Fellowship, a NARSAD Young Investigator Award, and the NIMH(K99MH090238).
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