Single cell RNA-seq of great ape cerebral organoids

The human brain has changed dramatically from other primate species, but the genetic and developmental mechanisms behind the differences remains unclear. Here we used single cell RNA sequencing based on 10X technology to explore temporal transcriptomic dynamics and cellular heterogeneity in cerebral organoids derived from human and non-human primates chimpanzee and rhesus macaque stem cells. Using cerebral organoids as a proxy of early brain development, we detect a delayed pace of human brain development relative to the other two primate species. Additional human-specific gene expression patterns resolved to different cell states through progenitors to neurons are also found. Our data provide a transcriptomic cell atlas of primate early brain development, and illustrate features that are unique to humans.