The 57th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Developmental Biologists

Chairpersons:Tadashi Nomura(KIT), Chiaki Maruyama(TMIMS)

The mammalian neocortex is a unique neuroanatomical structure characterized by tangential surface expansion and six layers. Neocortical expansion is accelerated in primates and humans and is thought to contribute to the evolution of human-specific cognitive functions. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the evolution of the neocortex remain to be elucidated. This symposium will focus on the diverse developmental mechanisms predicted to have contributed to the evolution of the mammalian neocortex. Selected speakers will present recent findings on species-specific characteristics of neural progenitors, unique cellular and molecular properties of layer-specific neurons, and human-specific genetic bases that contributed to neocortical expansion. Lively discussions with the audience are expected to enhance our understanding of the developmental basis for the evolution of the mammalian neocortex.
Co-organized by：Development Growth & Differentiation(DGD)