Stanford researchers find human brain consists of two separate organs

human brain evolution neuroscience discovery progenitor cells hindbrain development neurological disease research

Researchers from Stanford University have discovered that the human brain is not a single unified organ, but rather consists of two distinct nervous systems that evolved independently over hundreds of millions of years before integrating. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, reveals that the brain's development begins from two separate groups of progenitor cells during the gastrulation stage of embryonic development.

The forebrain and midbrain develop from cells expressing the Otx2 gene and are responsible for higher-level cognitive functions such as language, consciousness, and abstract reasoning. In contrast, the hindbrain develops from cells expressing the Gbx2 gene and manages vital automatic functions, including breathing, heartbeat, sleep, and swallowing.

This discovery explains why scientists have historically struggled to grow hindbrain cells in laboratory settings. By identifying these distinct developmental pathways and different chromatin configurations, the team has successfully grown functional hindbrain motor neurons from human pluripotent stem cells in a petri dish. This breakthrough provides new models for studying devastating neurological conditions that affect the brainstem, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Entities

California Institute of Technology · Carolyn Dundes · Kyle Loh · Nature Neuroscience · Rayyan Jokhai · Stanford Medicine · Stanford University

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 18 SOURCES] The human brain consists of two distinct nervous systems that evolved independently before integrating. it-bg.org · www.kibrismanset.com · www.lexmedicanews.com · techxeber.az · www.dimokratia.gr · +13 more
[● 5 SOURCES] The dual-system evolutionary pattern was observed in chickens, zebrafish, and acorn worms. techxeber.az · www.ygeiamasnews.gr · dailytimes.com.pk · www.albiladpress.com · www.dimokratia.gr
[● 10 SOURCES] The discovery provides new models for studying diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). www.lexmedicanews.com · techxeber.az · www.takvim.com.tr · offthepress.com · www.ygeiamasnews.gr · +5 more
[● 6 SOURCES] Researchers successfully grew functional hindbrain motor neurons from human pluripotent stem cells in a laboratory setting. techxeber.az · www.ygeiamasnews.gr · dailytimes.com.pk · www.albiladpress.com · www.takvim.com.tr · +1 more
[● 5 SOURCES] The forebrain and midbrain develop from cells expressing the Otx2 gene, while the hindbrain develops from cells expressing the Gbx2 gene. techxeber.az · time.news · www.voiceofsikkim.com · dailytimes.com.pk · www.albiladpress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The two cell populations possess fundamentally different chromatin configurations. www.albiladpress.com · time.news · dailytimes.com.pk