We are excited to share a new study, “Evolutionary origins and transcriptomic innovations of vertebrate Cajal–Retzius cells”, led by Dr. Maria Antonietta Tosches and her lab, now published in Current Biology.
This work takes a comparative, cross-species approach to address a long-standing question in neuroscience: are Cajal–Retzius (CR) cells a mammalian innovation, or do they have deeper evolutionary roots? By integrating single-cell transcriptomics and spatial analyses across vertebrates including fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals, the study shows that CR-like neurons are evolutionarily ancient and part of a broader family of Tp73⁺ neurons.
A key insight is that while these cells share a conserved transcriptional identity, their functional features have diverged across species, with mammalian CR cells acquiring specialized roles, including strong Reelin expression, critical for cortical development. This work also reveals a close evolutionary relationship between CR cells and olfactory bulb tufted neurons, suggesting a shared ancestral origin and highlighting how cell types can diversify while retaining a core molecular program.
We are very happy to have contributed to this collaborative effort.
Congratulations to Dr. Tosches and her lab for this outstanding work.
Kizil Lab 