August 18, 2010
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have reported the discovery of a single gene that guides the development of the human brain and central nervous system. The gene, called Pax6, influences the development of the eye and pancreas in mice and other species, but is expressed very early and plays a unique role in human development. The finding not only sheds light on how the human brain is different from that of other animals, but it could lead to novel treatments for brain diseases. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal:
Su-Chun Zhang, a professor of anatomy and neurology at UW who led the new study, said knowledge of this special gene, called a master regulator, may allow scientists to create a large bank of early brain stem cells, “so you can create any kind of neurons or glial cells in the brain or spinal cord.” For example, the technique could allow scientists to generate dopamine-generating neurons to replace those lost in Parkinson’s disease.
The research was published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.