"Key Factor in Human Brain Expansion Identified Through Organoids Research"
A study led by Dr. Mareike Albert at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden has identified a growth factor, epiregulin, as a crucial regulator for the expansion of the neocortex in humans. Using 3D brain organoids, the research team found that epiregulin promotes the division and expansion of stem cells in the developing human brain. The study also compared the effect of epiregulin in human and gorilla brain organoids, revealing that the amount of the growth factor may be the crucial regulator for inter-species differences in brain expansion. This research not only advances our understanding of human uniqueness but also highlights the importance of new technologies that offer ethical and non-invasive complements to animal research.
