Genetics have told how many mutations the human’s brain accumulates during the life

As Vesti.ru notes, scientists of Yale University and Harvard have calculated how many mutations the human’s brain accumulates during the life. The scientists have studied both embryos and adults. The experts from Yale have evaluated the dynamics of mutations in embryos. DNA analysis has shown that young neurons contain 200 to 400 genetic variations scattered along the whole DNA chain.

In the embryo these mutations are developed unevenly. At the early stages of embryo development, there are about 1.3 mutations per one new cell. Further, the figure increases to 5.1 mutations. The sooner a mutation occurs, the more effective it will be. That is, the changes being appeared at the embryo stage are likely to spread to the whole body. Moreover, among these mutations may be useful ones, introducing diversity in the genetic picture.

The final study of the brain DNA neurons in 15 people has shown that nerve cells with approximately 600 mutations begin to live independently. Every two weeks a new mutation arises. As a result by the age of 80 each of the neuron cells contains 2,400 mutations. This explains the cognitive decline as they age. But not all mutations lead to visible consequences. Only 1% of them can have a negative impact on health.

Source: "Vesti.RU".