RealFeedApp Retroviral DNA increased human brain size threefold
A retroviral infection inserted viral DNA into the genome of early chimpanzees seven million years ago, regulating genes that drive brain development. Although humans and chimpanzees share 98.8 percent of the same genes, these viral insertions account for the human brain being three times bigger and more complex than that of its closest evolutionary ancestor.
- Field
- genetics and genomes
- What they did
- Researchers discovered that an ancient retroviral infection inserted its own DNA into the genome of our primate ancestors, triggering the development of the human brain.
- Why it matters
- This explains why the human brain is three times larger and more powerful than that of the chimpanzee, despite us sharing nearly the same genes.
#retrovirus#brain evolution#genomics#primate#cognitive power
