Humans' big brains linked to stem cells
Researchers say they have discovered a new type of stem cell in the human brain that might be responsible for big and complex brains in human beings.
Scientists say the newly-discovered stem cells, originally formed in an area of the brain known as the subventricular zone, will help make the neocortex, the outer layer of the brain, via producing more neurons.
Animals also have the stem cells but humans are likely to have more of the active ones, Livescience.com quoted Arnold Kriegstein, a researcher at the University of California as saying recently.
The neocortex in humans is more expanded and is believed to give distinctive abilities such as language and consciousness.
According to researchers, the cells have revealed distinct multiplication properties and showed unprecedented movements.
"We don't entirely understand the significance of the movements, but they are very distinctive and characteristic of these kinds of cells," explained Kriegstein.
Scientists are planning to look into how these new stem cells collaborate with other specialized neural cells in the subventricular zone to create the neocortex.
Source: presstv.ir
