One single gene alteration in the brains of modern humans may be all that separates us from our extinct Neanderthal cousins, according to a new study. Stock imageMAKING A NEANDERTHAL BRAIN WITH STEM CELLS Stem cells, the self-renewing precursors of other cell types, can be used to build brain organoids - 'mini brains' in a laboratory dish. The researchers used CRISPR gene editing to engineer modern human stem cells with the Neanderthal-like mutation in NOVA1 - the one 'unique' and important genetic alteration. The Neanderthal-ized brain organoids looked very different from modern human brain organoids, even to the naked eye. The researchers used CRISPR gene editing to engineer modern human stem cells with the Neanderthal-like mutation in NOVA1.

Source: Daily Mail February 11, 2021 19:02 UTC