Evolution and evolutionary theory for physicians.
VIII. Evolution of the human brain
Authors:
F. Koukolík
Authors‘ workplace:
Primář: MUDr. František Koukolík, DrSc.
; Národní referenční laboratoř prionových chorob
; Fakultní Thomayerova nemocnice s poliklinikou, Praha
; Oddělení patologie a molekulární medicíny
Published in:
Prakt. Lék. 2010; 90(8): 451-454
Category:
Editorial
Overview
Until recently hominids could only be studied by means of paleoanthropology. Population genetics and molecular biology play an ever larger role today. The anatomical evolution of the brain describes a tenfold enlargment of the number of cortical brain areas during the evolution of mammals – from about 20 to 200. The molecular evolution of the brain records selection of adaptive mutations of a number of genes. Regulation of their expression is more significant however. According the social brain hypothesis, the complexity of social relationships was the fundamental selection pressure that lead to enlargment of brain volume in evolutionary ancestry in early man.
Key words:
Hominids, social brain hypothesis, brain, anatomical evolution, molecular evolution.
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