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Limited Likeness

Uniqueness of the human cerebellum revealed

02 December 2019

Limited Likeness

Despite appearances, we share fundamental similarities with animals around us. That’s why experiments on mice have yielded countless discoveries about our own biology. But is there a limit to how much we can learn from animals so visibly different? To investigate, researchers closely compared the development of the human cerebellum – part of the brain involved in processing sensory information (cross-section pictured) – with that of mice and macaques. They discovered that the human cerebellum has entirely unique characteristics, such as a group of developmental cells never seen in this region before, and the slower production of certain structures. This may reveal why past attempts to recreate certain human brain defects in mice have struggled, as they lack some of the machinery involved. A cautionary tale for those using animal models to draw conclusions about human health, and an important revelation of what we can, and cannot, learn from our evolutionary relations.

Written by Anthony Lewis

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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