Science magazine recently released a list of 125 unsolved scientific questions, with one being “What genetic changes made us uniquely human?” Researchers from Quantitative Biology published an article answering this question by exploring the evolution of gene regulation in humans. According to their findings, human intelligence emerged due to shifts in regulatory regions, rather than protein sequences.
The study focused on cis-regulatory elements, which control gene expression. By analyzing data from humans and chimpanzees, the researchers identified 10 key regulatory modules that govern various biological processes, such as learning, memory, and social behavior. They found two regulatory modules underwent significant changes between human species.
These shifts were associated with genes linked to long-term memory, cochlea development, and sleep regulation. The study’s findings provide a new quantitative framework for understanding the evolution of gene regulation, offering insights into why humans possess unique cognitive abilities compared to our closest relatives in chimpanzees.
Source: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1084176