brain power

One of the great scientific challenges is to understand the design principles and origins of the human brain.

New research has shed light on the evolutionary origins of the brain and how it evolved into the remarkably complex structure found in humans.

The research suggests that it is not size alone that gives more brain power, but that, during evolution, increasingly sophisticated molecular processing of nerve impulses allowed development of animals with more complex behaviors.

(Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute) One of the great scientific challenges is to understand the design principles and origins of the human brain.

New research has shed light on the evolutionary origins of the brain and how it evolved into the remarkably complex structure found in humans.The research suggests that it is not size alone that gives more brain power, but that, during evolution, increasingly sophisticated molecular processing of nerve impulses allowed development of animals with more complex behaviours.

Mitochondria, the fuel of a cell, has been found to be the "driver" for cell division, according to biochemists. This discovery could play a big role in finding cures for many human diseases, they say.

The biochemists studied yeast cells and found that mitochondria, which generates 90 percent of the cell's energy, can be the deciding factor -- the "brain power" -- behind how fast cells divide.

(Texas A&M University - Agricultural Communications) Mitochondria, the fuel of a cell, has been found to be the "driver" for cell division,according to Texas AgriLife Research biochemists.

This discovery could play a big role in finding cures for many human diseases, they say. The biochemists studied yeast cells and found that mitochondria, which generates 90 percent of the cell's energy, can be the deciding factor -- the "brain power" -- behind how fast cells divide.