Scientists have released the first draft of comprehensive atlases mapping the development of the human and mammalian brain, under the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN).

About the Research

• Objective: 
  • To chart how brain cells emerge, differentiate, and mature from the embryonic stage to adulthood.
  • To identify how gene expression controls neural development and how this process varies between species.
  • To build a reference map that supports diagnosis and treatment of neurological and developmental disorders.
• Scope: The study focused on human and mouse brain cells, with additional data from monkey brain cells for comparative insights.

Key features of the Atlas

• Mapping Brain Development:
  • The atlas charts how brain cells emerge, differentiate, and mature from the embryonic stage to adulthood.
  • It identifies how genes are switched on and off (gene activity) during different stages of brain development.
• Cell Diversity and Gene Control:
  • Over 5,000 brain cell types identified in the mouse brain; the human brain is believed to have at least as many.
  • Identified key genes regulating brain processes and previously unknown brain cell types.
  • Newly identified cell types were found in the neocortex (responsible for higher cognition) and striatum (controls movement and behavior).
• Human vs. Animal Brain Development:
  • Found shared mechanisms across species, but also unique human features, such as a prolonged differentiation process in cortical cells due to longer developmental timelines.
  • Comparative insights may explain human cognitive specialization and intelligence.
• Focus Regions: Atlases developed for –
  • Neocortex – responsible for higher cognitive functions.
  • Hypothalamus – regulates body functions like mood, sleep, hunger, and temperature.
• Medical Applications:
  • The atlas helps identify when and where developmental changes occur in diseases like autism, ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), and schizophrenia.
  • Enables targeted gene- and cell-based therapies by pinpointing disease-linked cellular pathways.
  • Aids in understanding how certain brain tumors mimic embryonic developmental pathways, offering clues for cancer treatment.

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