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Frank Jacobs is an Associate Professor at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences at the University of Amsterdam, specializing in evolutionary neurogenomics. His research investigates how genomic evolution has shaped gene regulatory networks involved in the development of the human brain. Focusing on the contribution of retrotransposons to gene expression, his lab explores how these genomic modifications affected primate evolution and contributed to the complexity of human neurological functions and disorders, such as autism and Alzheimer's disease. By leveraging human and primate stem cell lines, Jacobs's team examines the impact of gene duplication and transposable elements on neural gene-regulatory pathways. His recent work includes significant findings regarding segmental duplications that resulted in the emergence of human-specific genes highly expressed in neuronal progenitor cells. Through his research endeavors, Jacobs aims to elucidate the genomic factors that underlie human brain development and the susceptibility to neurodevelopmental disorders.
University of Amsterdam • Amsterdam, Netherlands
Leading research within the Swammerdam Institute studying evolutionary aspects of neurogenomics.
Includes departments like Economics, Business Administration, Finance, and Marketing.