Project description
What sets us apart from our closest evolutionary relatives?
How are Neanderthals and modern humans different? What caused humans to diverge? What separates us from chimpanzees and other apes? Genome comparisons have identified genetic changes that likely contribute to innovations in human metabolic and cognitive physiology. The EU-funded ANTHROPOID project will use organoids to study the changes that set modern humans apart from our closest evolutionary relatives as well as all other organisms on the planet. It will create a great ape developmental cell atlas using cortex, liver and small intestine organoids. The research team will dissect enhancer evolution using single-cell genomic screens and ancestralise human cells to resurrect prehuman cellular phenotypes.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologymammalogyprimatology
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanets
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesmeteorologybiosphera
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
Host institution
4070 Basel
Switzerland
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Beneficiaries (2)
4070 Basel
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Participation ended
4056 Basel
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