Gut Microbes Linked to Evolution of Larger Primate Brains

A groundbreaking study reveals how gut bacteria may have fueled the energy demands of larger brains in humans and other primates.

Researchers found that gut microbes from large-brained primates, like humans and squirrel monkeys, enhanced energy production in lab mice, while microbes from smaller-brained primates favored fat storage.
The study suggests that gut microbiota evolved to meet the high energy demands of larger brains, supporting brain growth and maintenance over evolutionary time.
Mice with gut microbes from humans and squirrel monkeys showed similar metabolic traits, despite these species not being closely related, indicating convergent evolution driven by brain size.
The findings provide the first experimental evidence that gut microbes influence interspecies biological differences and may have played a crucial role in human brain evolution.
Future research aims to study additional primate species and explore the specific compounds produced by gut microbes that impact energy use and other host traits.