Which DNA fragments of "Neuron" contribute to the development of the human brain?

Many of the fastest-evolving parts of the human genome are involved in the development of the brain

Chris Walsh of Boston Children's Hospital in Massachusetts and his colleagues studied parts of the human genome called "Human Acceleration Zones" (HARs)

Previous research has identified 3171 possible HARs, but Walsh said they cannot all be important

Using this and other methods, the research team identified 210 HARs that significantly enhanced gene activity in nerve cells

The researchers then focused on a gene called PPP1R17, which is expressed in some cells of the developing brain and is regulated by several HARs, so its behavior in humans is different from other mammals

"This illustrates how these enhancers change dynamically during evolution," Walsh said

It is not clear why PPP1R17 is activated to varying degrees in humans, but this may be related to our abnormally large brains

Neuron , DOI: 10.