Overview

• Scientists found that human brain cells exhibit higher and more specialized gene expression compared to chimpanzees and macaques, despite sharing over 95% of the genome with chimpanzees.
• The study identified differences in the expression of 5–10% of the 25,000 genes analyzed, with the percentage increasing to 12–15% when examining specific cell subtypes.
• Glial cells, particularly oligodendrocytes, showed significant gene expression differences, contributing to faster and more efficient neural signaling in humans.
• The findings suggest that the evolution of human intelligence and brain complexity required not only neuron diversity but also advancements in supporting cell types like glial cells.
• Researchers plan to expand the study to other brain regions and investigate gene expression differences with archaic humans like Neanderthals and Denisovans.