3 ms·
I suppose sharing of mitochondria would explain why the number of glial cells corresponds linearly to brain volume rather than scaling with the number of neuron
by Symmetry 10y ago
I suppose sharing of mitochondria would explain why the number of glial cells corresponds linearly to brain volume rather than scaling with the number of neurons. When you think about it extremely long cells like neurons do have a problem with control and intra-cellular tranfer of organelles would solve a lot of problems. I'm not at all sure about other aspects of that article but it's in the nature of man to be mistaken about some things while they are correct about others.
I've also been surprised to read about genetic differences between brain cells recently that are as large as the genetic differences between immune cells and far larger than the normal sort of somatic mosaicism you get by typical errors copying that you see in other organs.
- spqr0a1 10y agoIt's essential to the growth pattern of dendrites that neurons are able to recognize and avoid themselves. There's evidence that alternative splicing (the genetic differences you mentioned) arose in cadherins before even the immune system. Basically alternative splicing provides each neuron with a random key that has a ~1/30,000 chance of collision.
- Symmetry 10y agoThis gets encoded into some sort of external marker I assume?
- spqr0a1 10y agoYup, cadherins are transmembrane proteins and the variable domains are exposed on the external surface.
- berdon 10y agoOut of curiosity - do you have any suggested reading to learn more about the brain at this depth?