https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-say-the-human-brain-might-be-made-of-two-distinct-nervous-systems-that-got-squished-together-180989539/
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“Scientists Say the Human Brain Might Be Made of Two Distinct Nervous Systems That Got Squished Together Skip to main content Search Shop Newsletters Renew Give a Gift Subscribe Membership i Subscribe Give a Gift Renew Sections Smart News History Science Innovation Arts & Culture Travel At the Smithsonian More from Smithsonian magazine Newsletters Photo Contest Podcast Videos Our Partners Smithsonian Store Smithsonian Journeys Subscribe to Smithsonian magazine and get a FREE tote.”
“RNA analysis revealed two populations of brain progenitor cells.”
“One expresses a gene called Otx2 and becomes the forebrain and another part called the midbrain, and one expresses a gene called Gbx2 and becomes the hindbrain.”
“Hybrid brains Earlier this month, researchers revealed that they created mice with half-human brains .”
“On the other hand, jellyfish have two nervous systems on different sides of their bodies.”
“These distinct progenitor cells were seen in chickens, zebrafish and sea creatures called acorn worms , too, suggesting the trait is evolutionarily conserved.”
“The hybrid animals can help scientists study human neurological conditions like cerebral palsy.”
“The findings hint that our ancestors had two distinct nervous systems that, over millions of years of evolution, became tightly packed.”
“That might be because it’s actually made of two nervous systems that are squished together in our skulls, according to new research.”
“Scientists probably tried to generate them from forebrain and midbrain progenitors, he says, which is not possible, according to the study.”
“But scientists have long struggled to coax human pluripotent stem cells—which can become almost any type of cell—into turning into hindbrain nerve cells, hampering efforts to study this part of the brain.”
“So Loh and colleagues took a close look at mouse embryos roughly a week after conception.”
“The two cell types also package their DNA differently, the team found, further hinting that they always remain independent of each other.”
“Tryfonov / Adobe Stock The brain is an incredible organ, powering basic functions like breathing while also giving rise to human consciousness.”
“Nevertheless, the study still represents a crucial step on the journey toward understanding and treating conditions that affect the brainstem.”
“That hints the dual nervous systems became jam-packed at some point in between.”
“Jokhai, Loh and their colleagues used their newfound understanding to become the first team to make human pluripotent stem cells turn into working hindbrain motor neurons.”
“Developmental biologist Cecilia Moens , of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, isn’t convinced the two progenitor cells’ destinies are fully determined, reports the outlet.”