Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Human brain cells in humpback whales !

Researchers from the Mount Sinai school of medicine have reported that they have found human brain cells in humpback whales ! These brain cells are seen only in humans, apes and other cetaceans such as dolphins.

Some excerpts...

this might mean such whales are more intelligent than they have been given credit for, and suggests the basis for complex brains either evolved more than once, or has gone unused by most species of animals

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The finding may help explain some of the behaviors seen in whales, such as intricate communication skills, the formation of alliances, cooperation, cultural transmission and tool usage

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Although the function of spindle neurons is not well understood, they may be involved in cognition -- learning, remembering and recognizing the world around oneself. Spindle cells may be affected by Alzheimer's disease and other debilitating brain disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.

Hmm...this might show distinctive links between humans and these aquatic mammals.

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