Origin and Evolution of the Nervous System: New Data from Comparative Whole Genome Studies of Multicellular Animals

For evolutionary neuroscience, 2021 is associated with great research achievements based on cell whole genome sequencing methods. These studies have made significant progress in understanding several fundamental issues. How and when did the first neurons appear in animal evolution? What were the first nervous systems of basal Metazoa, and what could be inherited by the modern vertebrate brain from their ancient organization? Why has glutamate become the dominant neurotransmitter in the mammalian brain? What genes and how do they determine the differences between the human brain and the brain of other vertebrates? How often is cotransmission (the use of several classical neurotransmitters by the same neuron) observed in the nervous system of different types of multicellular animals? This review is devoted to the analysis of revisions in the theoretical statements of evolutionary neuroscience, which are associated with the summarization of the results of recent years.

Automated summary

2021 witnessed significant research achievements in evolutionary neuroscience based on cell whole genome sequencing methods, leading to a better understanding of fundamental issues such as the evolution of the nervous system and functional differences among animals.