Genes expressed in specific areas of the human fetal cerebral cortex display distinct patterns of evolution.

ABSTRACT: The developmental mechanisms through which the cerebral cortex increased in size and complexity during primate evolution are essentially unknown. To uncover genetic networks active in the developing cerebral cortex, we combined three-dimensional reconstruction of human fetal brains at midgestation and whole genome expression profiling. This novel approach enabled transcriptional characterization of neurons from accurately defined cortical regions containing presumptive Broca and Wernicke language areas, as well as surrounding associative areas. We identified hundreds of genes displaying differential expression between the two regions, but no significant difference in gene expression between left and right hemispheres. Validation by qRTPCR and in situ hybridization confirmed the robustness

SUBMITTER: Lambert N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3060818 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature