1487-A 3D Molecular Atlas of the Lamprey Brain and Evolution

Paper Talk · Aug 25, 2026 · 23m

This research article presents a comprehensive three-dimensional molecular atlas of the adult lamprey brain, created by combining spatial transcriptomics and single-nucleus RNA sequencing. By mapping over 200 distinct cell populations across 14 brain regions, the study establishes a foundational blueprint of the ancestral vertebrate brain. Cross-species comparisons with mammals, birds, and reptiles reveal that while basic brain architecture is deeply conserved, modern brains evolved through intense neuronal specialization and spatial reorganization. A key finding suggests that the cellular…