title: Neural progenitors, neurogenesis and the evolution of the neocortex.
abstract: The neocortex is the seat of higher cognitive functions and, in evolutionary terms, is the youngest part of the mammalian brain. Since its origin, the neocortex has expanded in several mammalian lineages, and this is particularly notable in humans. This expansion reflects an increase in the number of neocortical neurons, which is determined during development and primarily reflects the number of neurogenic divisions of distinct classes of neural progenitor cells. Consequently, the evolutionary expansion of the neocortex and the concomitant increase in the numbers of neurons produced during development entail interspecies differences in neural progenitor biology. Here, we review the diversity of neocortical neural progenitors, their interspecies variations and their roles in determining the evolutionary increase in neuron numbers and neocortex size.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, Dresden 01307, Germany.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Florio
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, Dresden 01307, Germany huttner@mpi-cbg.de.
authors.forename: Wieland B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Huttner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D019579:Neocortex / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: Basal radial glia; Evolution; Neocortex; Neural progenitors; Neurogenesis; Outer subventricular zone