A group of Chinese scientists has uncovered the mystery behind how an ancient gene regulates the development of brain folds, shedding new light on the evolution of the human brain. The findings were recently published in Nature Genetics.
The human brain is covered with intricate wrinkles and grooves, which constitute one of the important biological foundations for the emergence of advanced human cognitive functions. The traditional view holds that the expansion of the primate cerebral cortex was primarily driven by newly evolved genes.