Abstract
The developmental and evolutionary mechanisms behind the emergence of human-specific brain features remain largely unknown. However, the recent ability to compare our genome to that of our closest relative, the chimpanzee, provides new avenues to link genetic and phenotypic changes in the evolution of the human brain. We devised a ranking of regions in the human genome that show significant evolutionary acceleration. Here we report that the most dramatic of these 'human accelerated regions', HAR1, is part of a novel RNA gene (HAR1F) that is expressed specifically in Cajal-Retzius neurons in the developing human neocortex from 7 to 19 gestational weeks, a crucial period for cortical neuron specification and migration. HAR1F is co-expressed with reelin, a product of Cajal-Retzius neurons that is of fundamental importance in specifying the six-layer structure of the human cortex. HAR1 and the other human accelerated regions provide new candidates in the search for uniquely human biology.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Aging / genetics
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Animals
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Base Sequence
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Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / genetics
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Cerebral Cortex / anatomy & histology
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Cerebral Cortex / embryology*
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Cerebral Cortex / metabolism*
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Evolution, Molecular*
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Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
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Humans
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Macaca / genetics
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Mutation / genetics
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Neocortex / anatomy & histology
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Neocortex / embryology
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Neocortex / metabolism
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Nucleic Acid Conformation
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Organ Specificity
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RNA Stability
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RNA, Untranslated / chemistry
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RNA, Untranslated / genetics*
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RNA, Untranslated / metabolism
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Reelin Protein
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Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
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Time Factors
Substances
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Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
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Extracellular Matrix Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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RNA, Untranslated
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Reelin Protein
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RELN protein, human
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Serine Endopeptidases
Associated data
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GENBANK/DQ860409
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GENBANK/DQ860410
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GENBANK/DQ860411
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GENBANK/DQ860412
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GENBANK/DQ860413
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GENBANK/DQ860414
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GENBANK/DQ860415