The article discusses significant research highlighting that, despite sharing over 98% of DNA with chimpanzees, humans possess advanced cognitive and emotional abilities. This research indicates that rapid changes in gene regulation, rather than protein-coding gene mutations, account for this difference.
Key findings reveal two important human-specific regulatory changes—termed “saltness”—that influence memory, learning, social behavior, and emotional depth. Researchers utilized advanced analytical methods, including a cis-regulatory element frequency (CREF) matrix, to compare gene regulation in humans and apes. By analyzing the CREF modules across four human species, they identified two distinctive regulatory modules linked to various cognitive functions.
Overall, the study emphasizes that human intelligence evolved through sudden rewiring of gene regulation, providing a new perspective on genetic evolution and cognitive development.
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