Neural organoid models of human brain evolution.

Neural organoid models provide an in vitro way to functionally investigate molecular mechanisms behind human brain differences from other great apes across evolutionarily relevant developmental contexts.

• Why it matters: The molecular basis for structural and functional differences between humans and their closest living relatives is largely unknown, limiting explanations for human-specific learning and creativity traits.
• What they did: This review synthesizes how neural organoids—used as models of brain development—can address genetic, cellular, and developmental questions, while also outlining challenges in organoid generation, long-term culture, and multimodal phenotyping.
• The result: The approach is expected to expand across Mammalia to define species- and lineage-specific traits and improve understanding of how complex traits emerge and evolve over developmental and evolutionary timescales.

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