Brain expansion: jumping genes and rapid expansion (Evolution)

by David Turell , Saturday, August 29, 2020, 01:26 (1337 days ago) @ David Turell

A new discovery about gene control over brain growth:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200828140310.htm

"The human genome contains over 4.5 million sequences of DNA called "transposable elements," these virus-like entities that "jump" around and help regulate gene expression. They do this by binding transcription factors, which are proteins that regulate the rate of transcription of DNA to RNA, influencing gene expression in a broad range of biological events.

"Now, an international team of scientists led by Didier Trono at EPFL has discovered that transposable elements play a significant role in influencing the development of the human brain.

"The scientists found that transposable elements regulate the brain's development by partnering up with two specialized proteins from the family of proteins known as "Krüppel-associated box-containing zinc finger proteins, or KZFPs. In 2019, another study led by Trono showed that KZFPs tamed the regulatory activity of transposable elements in the first few days of the fetus's life. However, they suspected that these regulatory sequences were subsequently re-ignited to orchestrate the development and function of adult organs.

"The researchers identified two KZFPs as specific only to primates, and found that they are expressed in specific regions of the human developing and adult brain. They further observed that these proteins kept controlling the activity of transposable elements -- at least in neurons and brain organoids cultured in the lab. As a result, these two KZFPs influenced the differentiation and neurotransmission profile of neurons, as well as guarded these cells against inflammatory responses that were otherwise triggered if their target transposable elements were left to be expressed. (my bold)

"'These results reveal how two proteins that appeared only recently in evolution have contributed to shape the human brain by facilitating the co-option of transposable elements, these virus-like entities that have been remodeling our ancestral genome since the dawn of times," says Didier Trono."

Comment: Why did these special proteins suddenly appear and help human brain expansion by attaching to specific parts of transposable DNA? Chance is a very unlikely answer. Looks planned by a designer to me