Genes for learning and memory are 650 million years old

Date:
July 14, 2023
Source:
University of Leicester
Summary:
Scientists have discovered that the genes required for learning,
memory, aggression and other complex behaviors originated around
650 million years ago.


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FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A team of scientists led by researchers from the University of Leicester
have discovered that the genes required for learning, memory, aggression
and other complex behaviours originated around 650 million years ago.

The findings led by Dr Roberto Feuda, from the Neurogenetic group in the Department of Genetics and Genome Biology and other colleagues from the University of Leicester and the University of Fribourg (Switzerland),
have now been published in Nature Communications.

Dr Feuda said: "We've known for a long time that monoamines like
serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline act as neuromodulators in the nervous system, playing a role in complex behaviour and functions like learning
and memory, as well as processes such as sleep and feeding.

"However, less certain was the origin of the genes required for the
production, detection, and degradation of these monoamines. Using the computational methods, we reconstructed the evolutionary history of these
genes and show that most of the genes involved in monoamine production, modulation, and reception originated in the bilaterian stem group.

"This finding has profound implications on the evolutionary origin of
complex behaviours such as those modulated by monoamines we observe in
humans and other animals." The authors suggest that this new way to
modulate neuronal circuits might have played a role in the Cambrian
Explosion -- known as the Big Bang -- which gave rise to the largest diversification of life for most major animal groups alive today by
providing flexibility of the neural circuits to facilitate the interaction
with the environment.

Dr Feuda added: "This discovery will open new important research avenues
that will clarify the origin of complex behaviours and if the same
neurons modulate reward, addiction, aggression, feeding, and sleep."
* RELATED_TOPICS
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* RELATED_TERMS
o Aggression o Homo_(genus) o Ichthyosaur o Dinosaur
o Alzheimer's_disease o Mammoth o Albertosaurus o
Computational_neuroscience

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Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Leicester. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Matthew Goulty, Gaelle Botton-Amiot, Ezio Rosato, Simon G. Sprecher,
Roberto Feuda. The monoaminergic system is a bilaterian innovation.

Nature Communications, 2023; 14 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39030-2 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230714114804.htm

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