Brain development in humans is achieved through precise spatiotemporal genetic control,
the mechanisms of which remain largely elusive. Recently, integration of technological …

Single-cell or single-nucleus transcriptomics is a powerful tool for identifying cell types and
cell states. However, hypotheses derived from these assays, including gene expression …

Denisovans, a group of now extinct humans who lived in Eastern Eurasia in the Middle and
Late Pleistocene, were first identified from DNA sequences just over a decade ago. Only ten …

In this article, I first provide an overview of the Neandertals by recounting their initial
discovery and subsequent interpretation by scientists and by discussing our current …

Astrocytic metabolism has taken center stage. Interposed between the neuron and the
vasculature, astrocytes exert control over the fluxes of energy and building blocks required …

The cerebral cortex—the brain's covering and largest region—has increased in size and
complexity in humans and supports higher cognitive functions such as language and …

Modern human ancestors diverged from the ancestors of Neandertals and Denisovans
about 600,000 years ago. Until about 40,000 years ago, these three groups existed in …

Comparative studies of hominids have long sought to identify mutational events that shaped
the evolution of the human nervous system. However, functional genetic differences are …

Metabolism has recently emerged as a major target of genes implicated in the evolutionary
expansion of human neocortex. One such gene is the human-specific gene ARHGAP11B …

“What makes us human?” is a central question of many research fields, notably
anthropology. In this review, we focus on the development of the human neocortex, the part …