A new gene shows human evolution

Duke University (USA) scientists say they have detected a regulatory gene in the human brain, which shows evidence of human evolution from low-level mammals to humans. great.

They say that this evolution depends on the very dynamic variation of the gene called prodynorphin, ie PDYN. This gene plays an important role in the regulation of cognition, behavior and memory in the human brain. The team thinks that, compared to lower mammals, humans possess a very specific variation of the PDYN gene, and it is this gene transformation that increases the number of PDYN genes in the brain.

According to the team, this finding answers part of the mystery of evolution from low-level animals to modern humans, and paves the way for the study of how natural selection affects evolution. of other genes in humans. The study was published in the December issue of Public Library of Science.

UA