Thread

Two parallel neural ectoderm progenitors contribute to the developing brain

664 points · 258 comments · emigre

itvision · 1789800711 · focus · HN ↗
What a way to oversell the discovery.
The reality is:
```
    * Different brain regions have different functions: ancient knowledge.
    * Different regions contain distinct cell types and molecular programs: also well established.
    * Anterior and posterior brain structures may trace back to fundamentally separate progenitor lineages that were independently specified very early in evolution and development: that&#x27;s the interesting new result.
```
The headline should have been: "Human forebrain and hindbrain arise from distinct embryonic progenitor lineages" - not that we have "two organs" in the brain.
1. sandeepkd · 1789801139 · focus · HN ↗
  Though I agree with the detailed differentiation, still for the headline purpose a generic one that resonates with people easily isn't a bad choice
  1. jibal · 1789802618 · focus · HN ↗
    Lying is always a bad choice. The paper in Nature says
    "Hence, we postulate the brain is a composite organ emanating from two lineage-restricted progenitors; these dual progenitors may be evolutionarily conserved across 550 million years from hemichordates to mammals."
    KajMagnus · 1789805659 · focus · HN ↗
    If they had written instead:
    "Human brain was two separate organs"
    Then, both attention grabbig and true?
    b112 · 1789807039 · focus · HN ↗
    Probably not, because by the time hominids were a thing, it was one.
    (if I'm reading parent poster correctly)
    bryanrasmussen · 1789807705 · focus · HN ↗
    Human Brain Evolved From Two Separate Organs.
    nextaccountic · 1789807122 · focus · HN ↗
    Are there other composite organs?
    hulitu · 1789808017 · focus · HN ↗
    Yes, but this is left for the next years because they give only one Nobel preis per year.
    thaumasiotes · 1789809991 · focus · HN ↗
    <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siphonophore" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siphonophore
    mcherm · 1789810938 · focus · HN ↗
    That isn't even remotely related to the parent question. Organisms =/= Organs.
    thaumasiotes · 1789822239 · focus · HN ↗
    Do you think siphonophores don't have organs?
    grvbck · 1789811008 · focus · HN ↗
    Does the adrenal gland count?

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