Sick Science: Human Genes are Being Inserted into Monkey Brains
Scientists have inserted a human gene in the brains of monkeys to make them larger and more wrinkled in disconcerting lab experiments. Experts found the insertion of the gene, called ARHGAP11B, resulted in a larger neocortex in the foetus of a common marmoset.
The neocortex is the deeply grooved outer layer of the brain that is involved with reasoning, language, conscious thought and other important functions.
ARHGAP11B, which is found in humans but not non-human primates or other mammals, triggered the monkeys’ brain stem cells to form more stem cells, enlarging the brain.
Genetically tweaked marmoset brains were found to mimic the natural bumps and indentations in human brains, known as the gyri and sulci, respectively – an evolutionary trait in humans to increase surface area for neurons (nerve cells).
The experiments are evocative of the recent Planet of the Apes films, where genetically-modified primates wage a war on humanity. Researchers developed seven marmoset foetuses in total, all in utero (inside the womb) and were obtained at day 102 of pregnancy by Cesarian section for analysis.
‘We found indeed that the neocortex of the common marmoset brain was enlarged and the brain surface folded,’ said study author Michael Heide at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG).
‘[We also saw] increased numbers of upper-layer neurons, the neuron type that increases in primate evolution.’
The human neocortex is about three times bigger than that of our closest relatives, the chimpanzees. During evolution, our brains folded into the distinctive wrinkled appearance to fit inside the restricted space of our skull while allowing the surface area of the neocortex to be greatly increased.
Images of the 101-day-old genetically engineered marmoset foetus, about 50 days away from its normal birth date, show this induced folding in the team’s experiments. This contrasts with marmoset brains normally, which are much smoother than human brains, as well as smaller.
Normal and ARHGAP11B fetal marmoset brains. Yellow lines indicate the boundaries of cerebral cortex; white lines, developing cerebellum; arrowheads, folds. Scale bars: 1 mm
The walnut-like appearance of the human brain, an evolutionary trait to increase its surface area for neurons (nerve cells), is made of what’s called sulcus (the depression) and gyrus (the elevation)
ARHGAP11B may have caused neocortex expansion during human evolution, according to the team, which also included experts from Central Institute for Experimental Animals (CIEA) in Kawasaki and the Keio University in Tokyo, Japan.
The Japanese researchers, including Hideyuki Okano, had pioneered the development of a technology to generate transgenic non-human primates. Okano’s lab at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Wako, Japan was the first in the world to produce transgenic marmosets with germline transmission (GT).
GT is a technique where embryonic stem cells contribute to the reproductive cells of a mammal (germ cells) and are genetically passed to its offspring. However, there was no use of GT for this project, for the simple reason that the transgenic marmoset foetuses were not allowed to be born.
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tom0mason
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Why are they doing this? Why put human type folds into a monkey brain, what is the ultimate goal?
Maybe I’m missing something here but it appears this project is just doing something to show it can be done, without any real gain for humanity or the rest of nature.
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Kurt Konrard
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You beat me to it.
Sick is the right word. What’s the purpose of this?
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Herb Rose
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Hi Tom,
Given what we see currently happening around us, maybe its trying to find a way to make the average human’s brain work.
Herb
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tom0mason
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Maybe they’re trying to make an iApe. 🙂
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Tom Fellows
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I think I saw the movie in about 1968?
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JaKo
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Hi Tom,
If you consider that those precious 0.04% contents of Earth’s atmosphere is going to boil off all oceans in 11 years, you better have a plan B for civilized life on Earth — monkeys are a fair bet for that. They don’t drive SUV’s to work yet and they don’t need coal-fired power-plants so far and they don’t have any use for concrete at the moment — ideal replacement for humanity!
Cheers, JaKo
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tom0mason
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Oh, right JaKo
maybe the elites are manufacturing better apes to train all those politicians and AGW advocates.
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M Joseph
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Yes, the next wave of more easily manipulable politicians.
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