chr7 · 7q22.1 · 310 nt · 2015

CUX1 HARs

What it is

The outer layers of the human cortex are unusually thick. Genes like CUX1 tell late-born neurons who to become. Human-accelerated enhancers around CUX1 are a reasonable place to look for that extra chapter of cortical development.

Why it matters

Upper-layer cortical identity gene.

Operator load

• 01 · ΔE

  Enhancer activity

  These stretches of DNA do not code for proteins. They act as volume knobs — turning nearby brain-development genes up or down at the right moment.

• 03 · T

  Three-dimensional rewiring

  The genome folds in 3D. Human-specific changes can re-route which switches sit next to which genes, even if the letters look similar in a straight line.

cortical HAR surveys