Konopka Lab
@konopkalab.bsky.social
Official Konopka Lab Account!
We're a group of spirited scientists exploring the genetic landscape of the evolved human brain.
@Los Angeles, CA, konopkalab.org
We're a group of spirited scientists exploring the genetic landscape of the evolved human brain.
@Los Angeles, CA, konopkalab.org
Pinned
Konopka Lab
@konopkalab.bsky.social
· Jul 16
Big news—we’ve moved to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA! Even bigger: Gena is now Chair of the Department of Neurobiology. Congrats, Dr. Konopka! 💙🧠 #UCLA #Neurobiology #NewBeginnings
The future of science is at risk, we need your help to stand up for science: The federal government’s $1B demand from @UCLA puts critical research, innovation, and public health at risk. Join us in standing up for UC’s mission and future. #StandUpForUC: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/get-involved...
Stand Up for UC
We must stand together to protect our students, staff, faculty and our mission.
www.universityofcalifornia.edu
August 15, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The future of science is at risk, we need your help to stand up for science: The federal government’s $1B demand from @UCLA puts critical research, innovation, and public health at risk. Join us in standing up for UC’s mission and future. #StandUpForUC: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/get-involved...
Reposted by Konopka Lab
Revealing ancestral evolutionary patterns of the human brain at cell-type resolution, through comparative genomic analysis of open-chromatin regions across apes, old world monkeys & new world monkeys. New integrative paper from @konopkalab.bsky.social in @natcomms.nature.com. 🧠🧬🧪
Decoding DNA sequence-driven evolution of the human brain epigenome at cellular resolution - Nature Communications
How genetic changes prior to the human-chimpanzee split contributed to human brain evolution remains unknown. Here, the authors address this by identifying open-chromatin regions divergent in various ...
www.nature.com
July 4, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Revealing ancestral evolutionary patterns of the human brain at cell-type resolution, through comparative genomic analysis of open-chromatin regions across apes, old world monkeys & new world monkeys. New integrative paper from @konopkalab.bsky.social in @natcomms.nature.com. 🧠🧬🧪
Reposted by Konopka Lab
Human CLOCK enhances neocortical function @natneuro.nature.com @konopkalab.bsky.social @circadianclocks.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Human CLOCK enhances neocortical function - Nature Neuroscience
Regulation of gene expression is a facet of human brain specialization. Here, the authors show that human-like expression of the CLOCK gene in the mouse neocortex enhances cognitive flexibility and ne...
www.nature.com
June 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Human CLOCK enhances neocortical function @natneuro.nature.com @konopkalab.bsky.social @circadianclocks.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We celebrated Haley graduating from the Neuroscience Ph.D. program at UT Southwestern. Huge congrats, Dr. Moore! 🎉🎓
July 16, 2025 at 7:32 PM
We celebrated Haley graduating from the Neuroscience Ph.D. program at UT Southwestern. Huge congrats, Dr. Moore! 🎉🎓
Big news—we’ve moved to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA! Even bigger: Gena is now Chair of the Department of Neurobiology. Congrats, Dr. Konopka! 💙🧠 #UCLA #Neurobiology #NewBeginnings
July 16, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Big news—we’ve moved to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA! Even bigger: Gena is now Chair of the Department of Neurobiology. Congrats, Dr. Konopka! 💙🧠 #UCLA #Neurobiology #NewBeginnings
Thanks for the love! 🌟 Unfortunately, we don't have data from the ventral striatum at the moment, but who knows what the future holds? Always exciting to think about the possibilities! 😄
April 23, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Thanks for the love! 🌟 Unfortunately, we don't have data from the ventral striatum at the moment, but who knows what the future holds? Always exciting to think about the possibilities! 😄
8/
🧪 Combining snRNA-seq + smFISH + cross-species comparisons + cross region comparisons = powerful insights into mammalian striatum evolution.
🧵Thanks for reading!
🧪 Combining snRNA-seq + smFISH + cross-species comparisons + cross region comparisons = powerful insights into mammalian striatum evolution.
🧵Thanks for reading!
April 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
8/
🧪 Combining snRNA-seq + smFISH + cross-species comparisons + cross region comparisons = powerful insights into mammalian striatum evolution.
🧵Thanks for reading!
🧪 Combining snRNA-seq + smFISH + cross-species comparisons + cross region comparisons = powerful insights into mammalian striatum evolution.
🧵Thanks for reading!
7/
Takeaways:
🧠 Our findings underscore the importance of including a diverse array of species and brain regions when uncovering novel cell types and examining cellular abundance variations which may lead to species-specific behaviors.
Takeaways:
🧠 Our findings underscore the importance of including a diverse array of species and brain regions when uncovering novel cell types and examining cellular abundance variations which may lead to species-specific behaviors.
April 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
7/
Takeaways:
🧠 Our findings underscore the importance of including a diverse array of species and brain regions when uncovering novel cell types and examining cellular abundance variations which may lead to species-specific behaviors.
Takeaways:
🧠 Our findings underscore the importance of including a diverse array of species and brain regions when uncovering novel cell types and examining cellular abundance variations which may lead to species-specific behaviors.
6/
We’re sharing the first snRNA-seq datasets from:
🐵 Chimpanzee CN (n=4) + Pu (n=6)
🦇 Bat (Phyllostomus discolor) CN + Pu (n=4 each)
Available to the neuroscience community! 🌍
We’re sharing the first snRNA-seq datasets from:
🐵 Chimpanzee CN (n=4) + Pu (n=6)
🦇 Bat (Phyllostomus discolor) CN + Pu (n=4 each)
Available to the neuroscience community! 🌍
April 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
6/
We’re sharing the first snRNA-seq datasets from:
🐵 Chimpanzee CN (n=4) + Pu (n=6)
🦇 Bat (Phyllostomus discolor) CN + Pu (n=4 each)
Available to the neuroscience community! 🌍
We’re sharing the first snRNA-seq datasets from:
🐵 Chimpanzee CN (n=4) + Pu (n=6)
🦇 Bat (Phyllostomus discolor) CN + Pu (n=4 each)
Available to the neuroscience community! 🌍
5/
Uncovered species-specific differences in interneuron cell type abundance:
PDGFD PTHLH PVALB– interneurons = primarily found in primates 🐒
PDGFD PTHLH PVALB+ interneurons = primarily found in non-primates 🦇🐭🦦
Evolutionary divergence in PVALB expression within striatal interneurons!
Uncovered species-specific differences in interneuron cell type abundance:
PDGFD PTHLH PVALB– interneurons = primarily found in primates 🐒
PDGFD PTHLH PVALB+ interneurons = primarily found in non-primates 🦇🐭🦦
Evolutionary divergence in PVALB expression within striatal interneurons!
April 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
5/
Uncovered species-specific differences in interneuron cell type abundance:
PDGFD PTHLH PVALB– interneurons = primarily found in primates 🐒
PDGFD PTHLH PVALB+ interneurons = primarily found in non-primates 🦇🐭🦦
Evolutionary divergence in PVALB expression within striatal interneurons!
Uncovered species-specific differences in interneuron cell type abundance:
PDGFD PTHLH PVALB– interneurons = primarily found in primates 🐒
PDGFD PTHLH PVALB+ interneurons = primarily found in non-primates 🦇🐭🦦
Evolutionary divergence in PVALB expression within striatal interneurons!
4/
🦇 Having analyzed bat (Phyllostomus discolor) CN and Pu snRNA-seq separately we observed:
🔍 Significant neuron-to-glia ratio differences between CN and Pu.
📌2 novel bat interneuron types in Pu which may account for species-specific behavior:
🔹 LMO3 expressing
🔹 FOXP2 and TSHZ2 expressing
🦇 Having analyzed bat (Phyllostomus discolor) CN and Pu snRNA-seq separately we observed:
🔍 Significant neuron-to-glia ratio differences between CN and Pu.
📌2 novel bat interneuron types in Pu which may account for species-specific behavior:
🔹 LMO3 expressing
🔹 FOXP2 and TSHZ2 expressing
April 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
4/
🦇 Having analyzed bat (Phyllostomus discolor) CN and Pu snRNA-seq separately we observed:
🔍 Significant neuron-to-glia ratio differences between CN and Pu.
📌2 novel bat interneuron types in Pu which may account for species-specific behavior:
🔹 LMO3 expressing
🔹 FOXP2 and TSHZ2 expressing
🦇 Having analyzed bat (Phyllostomus discolor) CN and Pu snRNA-seq separately we observed:
🔍 Significant neuron-to-glia ratio differences between CN and Pu.
📌2 novel bat interneuron types in Pu which may account for species-specific behavior:
🔹 LMO3 expressing
🔹 FOXP2 and TSHZ2 expressing
3/
🤯 Across ~94 million years of evolution, we found shared molecular markers for eccentric spiny neurons (eSPNs) in both primates 🐒 and non-primates 🐭🦦🦇.
These conserved markers suggest that eSPNs are a core striatal feature, as previously shown in mouse, not a recent innovation.
🤯 Across ~94 million years of evolution, we found shared molecular markers for eccentric spiny neurons (eSPNs) in both primates 🐒 and non-primates 🐭🦦🦇.
These conserved markers suggest that eSPNs are a core striatal feature, as previously shown in mouse, not a recent innovation.
April 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
3/
🤯 Across ~94 million years of evolution, we found shared molecular markers for eccentric spiny neurons (eSPNs) in both primates 🐒 and non-primates 🐭🦦🦇.
These conserved markers suggest that eSPNs are a core striatal feature, as previously shown in mouse, not a recent innovation.
🤯 Across ~94 million years of evolution, we found shared molecular markers for eccentric spiny neurons (eSPNs) in both primates 🐒 and non-primates 🐭🦦🦇.
These conserved markers suggest that eSPNs are a core striatal feature, as previously shown in mouse, not a recent innovation.
2/
Eccentric spiny neurons (eSPNs):
Found in lower proportions among SPNs in non-primates 🐭🦦🦇.
In primates, higher eSPN prevalence may support advanced cognitive functions and complex behaviors.
✅ Again, validated with smFISH. 🔬
Eccentric spiny neurons (eSPNs):
Found in lower proportions among SPNs in non-primates 🐭🦦🦇.
In primates, higher eSPN prevalence may support advanced cognitive functions and complex behaviors.
✅ Again, validated with smFISH. 🔬
April 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
2/
Eccentric spiny neurons (eSPNs):
Found in lower proportions among SPNs in non-primates 🐭🦦🦇.
In primates, higher eSPN prevalence may support advanced cognitive functions and complex behaviors.
✅ Again, validated with smFISH. 🔬
Eccentric spiny neurons (eSPNs):
Found in lower proportions among SPNs in non-primates 🐭🦦🦇.
In primates, higher eSPN prevalence may support advanced cognitive functions and complex behaviors.
✅ Again, validated with smFISH. 🔬
1/
In primates, the CN shows lower neuron-to-glia ratios vs. non-primates.
This matches known allometric scaling of neuron density in larger brains
🧠 Bigger brains = ↓ neuron density but relatively stable glial density.
(See: Hirter et al. 2021, Herculano-Houzel 2014)
✅ Confirmed with smFISH. 🔬
In primates, the CN shows lower neuron-to-glia ratios vs. non-primates.
This matches known allometric scaling of neuron density in larger brains
🧠 Bigger brains = ↓ neuron density but relatively stable glial density.
(See: Hirter et al. 2021, Herculano-Houzel 2014)
✅ Confirmed with smFISH. 🔬
April 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
1/
In primates, the CN shows lower neuron-to-glia ratios vs. non-primates.
This matches known allometric scaling of neuron density in larger brains
🧠 Bigger brains = ↓ neuron density but relatively stable glial density.
(See: Hirter et al. 2021, Herculano-Houzel 2014)
✅ Confirmed with smFISH. 🔬
In primates, the CN shows lower neuron-to-glia ratios vs. non-primates.
This matches known allometric scaling of neuron density in larger brains
🧠 Bigger brains = ↓ neuron density but relatively stable glial density.
(See: Hirter et al. 2021, Herculano-Houzel 2014)
✅ Confirmed with smFISH. 🔬
We generated new snRNA-seq data from primates 🐒, and bats 🦇 as well as used other data from marmosets and non-primates 🐭🦦 from the caudate nucleus (CN) and putamen (Pu) (caudoputamen for mouse), uncovering fascinating differences in cell types and ratios. Let’s dive in! 👇
April 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
We generated new snRNA-seq data from primates 🐒, and bats 🦇 as well as used other data from marmosets and non-primates 🐭🦦 from the caudate nucleus (CN) and putamen (Pu) (caudoputamen for mouse), uncovering fascinating differences in cell types and ratios. Let’s dive in! 👇
We are super excited to share our latest pre-print in collaboration with @sonjavernes.bsky.social lab! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... : Evolution of the cellular landscape in mammalian striatum 🧠🧬🧵
Evolution of the cellular landscape in mammalian striatum
The dorsal striatum is important for highly specialized functions including movement, learning, and habit formation. However, it is not known if species-specialized behaviors are associated with cellu...
www.biorxiv.org
April 22, 2025 at 5:32 PM
We are super excited to share our latest pre-print in collaboration with @sonjavernes.bsky.social lab! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... : Evolution of the cellular landscape in mammalian striatum 🧠🧬🧵
Hi Cedric! Thank you for highlighting our work! Stay posted for more cool studies from our lab!
April 22, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Hi Cedric! Thank you for highlighting our work! Stay posted for more cool studies from our lab!
Reposted by Konopka Lab
Very nice comparative study by the labs of Gena Konopka & Sonja Vernes, on the evolution of the cellular landscape in mammalian striatum 🧪🧠🧬
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Evolution of the cellular landscape in mammalian striatum
The dorsal striatum is important for highly specialized functions including movement, learning, and habit formation. However, it is not known if species-specialized behaviors are associated with cellu...
www.biorxiv.org
April 21, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Very nice comparative study by the labs of Gena Konopka & Sonja Vernes, on the evolution of the cellular landscape in mammalian striatum 🧪🧠🧬
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...