Microcephalin and ASPM Genes Determine Human Brain Size
In the last 60,000 years, the human brain has continued to evolve. Two genes–microcephalin and ASPM–appear to play a role in determining the size of the human brain. They were first discovered in studies of microcephaly, a congenital disease in which people are born with smaller than average brains.
Brain size, however, isn’t necessarily correlated with intelligence. The genes may be useful in some tangential way, such as increased fertility or resistance to disease.
The discovery adds further weight to the view that human evolution is still a work in progress, since previous instances of recent genetic change have come to light in genes that defend against disease and confer the ability to digest milk in adulthood.
International Herald Tribune, September 9, 2005
ETA: More detailed discussions at Gene Expression and FuturePundit.
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POSTED IN: General Genetics and Health
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4 opinions for Microcephalin and ASPM Genes Determine Human Brain Size
razib
Sep 9, 2005 at 12:27 am
full papers are in gnxp forum files lei….
Lei
Sep 9, 2005 at 12:49 am
Razib, Rats! I knew I should have checked over at gnxp first. Will edit this post to link to you guys asap.
razib
Sep 9, 2005 at 2:20 am
if something is at the intersection of mind and gene, check us for sure :)
» Tangled Bank #43: Science Blogging Genetics and Health
Dec 14, 2005 at 9:47 pm
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