Comment on “Human TKTL1 implies greater neurogenesis in frontal neocortex of modern humans than Neanderthals”
Roberto H. Herai, Katerina Semendeferi, Alysson R. Muotri
Abstract
Pinson et al . ( 1 ) concluded that the modern human TKTL1 gene is responsible for an increased number of cortical neurons. We show that the “putative Neanderthal variant” of TKTL1 is present in modern human backgrounds. We dispute their argument that this genetic variant is responsible for brain differences in modern humans as opposed to Neanderthals.
Topics & Concepts
NeanderthalNeocortexArgument (complex analysis)NeurogenesisHuman brainBiologyHominidaePaleoanthropologyHomo sapiensHuman evolutionEvolutionary biologyBiological evolutionNeuroscienceGeneticsHistoryPaleontologyArchaeologyBiochemistryGenomics and Chromatin DynamicsNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsGenetic Syndromes and Imprinting