Stanford Study Reframes the Brain as Two Separate Neural Systems

Stanford researchers reveal the brain is built from two ancient neural systems that develop in parallel from separate progenitors—Otx2 for the forebrain/midbrain and Gbx2 for the hindbrain—whose distinct chromatin states are set early in development. This explains why hindbrain neurons have been hard to grow in the lab and enables deriving hindbrain neurons from pluripotent stem cells, offering a new model to study SMA and ALS. Evolutionary evidence across chickens, zebrafish, acorn worms, and even jellyfish suggests two ancient nervous systems were brought together to form the modern brain, with potential implications for regenerative therapies and weight regulation.