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Patterns of neural stem and progenitor cell division may underlie evolutionary cortical expansion

Abstract

The dramatic evolutionary expansion of the cerebral cortex of Homo sapiens underlies our unique higher cortical functions, and therefore bears on the ultimate issue of what makes us human. Recent insights into developmental events during early proliferative stages of cortical development indicate how neural stem and progenitor cells might interact to produce cortical expansion during development, and could shed light on evolutionary changes in cortical structure.

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Figure 1: Histogenesis of the cerebral cortex.
Figure 2: Patterns of cell division in the embryonic cortex.
Figure 3: SVZ size predicts sites of gyral and sulcal formation.
Figure 4: Model of how temporal patterns of gene expression may regulate layer formation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank A. Alvarez-Bullya and J. L. R. Rubenstein for helpful comments on the manuscript. This work has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health to A.R.K., and from the the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte, Spain, to V.M.C.

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Correspondence to Arnold Kriegstein.

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DATABASES

OMIM

Primary autosomal recessive microcephaly

FURTHER INFORMATION

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Glossary

Asymmetric division

A cell division that produces two cells with different fate potential.

Cladogram

A tree-like diagram depicting evolutionary relationships between different species. In these diagrams, branches that share the same node are closely related.

Cortical plate

The cellular layer of the developing cerebral cortex that will become layers II–VI of the adult cortex.

Gyrencephalic cortex

Adult six-layered neocortex that develops a folded surface associated with gyri and sulci.

Lissencephalic cortex

Adult six-layered neocortex without folds created by gyri and sulci, which therefore has a smooth surface.

Preplate

The first cortical layer to develop, containing the earliest-generated cortical neurons. This layer is split by migrating cortical plate neurons that settle here, dividing it into a superficial layer that becomes the marginal zone and a deep layer that becomes the subplate.

Stem mammal

Putative vertebrate species from which all mammals evolved.

Symmetric division

A cell division that produces two cells with identical fate potential.

Telencephalon

The anterior portion of the forebrain, which includes the cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia and the olfactory bulbs.

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Kriegstein, A., Noctor, S. & Martínez-Cerdeño, V. Patterns of neural stem and progenitor cell division may underlie evolutionary cortical expansion. Nat Rev Neurosci 7, 883–890 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2008

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