New insights into the significance of the emergence of a human-specific gene on brain evolution. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 32975]

Huxley and Darwin were among the first to appreciate the close evolutionary relationship of humans and other African great apes but also to ponder what genetic changes might make us human. Initial comparisons of human and chimpanzee genes, showed little difference (>99% identical) despite the numerous adaptations that must have occurred on the human lineage. Recent studies of more complex regions of our genome have revealed hotspots of dramatic evolutionary change. Within these regions are hundreds of new duplicate genes, several of which appear to be important in human-specific neuroanatomical adaptations. Paradoxically, this genetic complexity has led to mutations causing childhood diseases suggesting that human-specific genes and increased disease burden are tightly linked. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 32976]

Simon Fisher gives a fascinating account of how an irregularity in one single base of DNA leads to a rare and severe inherited language deficit, and how this finding helps reveal aspects of the evolutionary history of the human capacity for language. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 32441]

A fascinating account of people who in most every sense are very ordinary, but who have extraordinary memory. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 32442]

UC San Francisco's Arnold Kriegstein addresses whether the Zika virus could someday be used to kill cancerous brain cells. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 32986]

John Marzluff explores the reactions of American Crows to death among their flock, and the different motivations which may exist for the behaviors. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 32050]

In this talk, Sriram Sankararaman (UCLA) describes methods that enable us to map the locations of archaic ancestry in present-day humans. He then shows how the applications of these methods helps to understand the impact of Neandertal and Denisovan ancestry in present-day humans. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 30975]

Dora Biro explores reactions to death among our closest evolutionary relatives, the Chimpanzee, as well shares insights about reactions among other mammals, and how these observations may provide a lens with which to understand the evolution of death related psychology and behavior among humans. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 32049]

The way cells differentiate to eventually form the human brain and all the unique connections that make us human is ultimately the result of processes forged in evolution. Three experts share their investigations into characteristics of the human genome and its changes throughout evolution that make us human. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 32928]

Concluding remarks and question and answer session for the symposium: Cellular and Molecular Explorations of Anthropogeny. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Science] [Show ID: 32978]