We’ve all at some point or another wondered why we can speak and our primate cousins can not speak. A study at UCLA may have found a large clue into that mystery. The study reveals that a gene, FOXP2, is directly related to speech in humans. If this gene is damaged or disrupted in humans it causes speech impairments. Early research suggests that FOXP2 changed rapidly in the human brain around the same time that language emerged in modern humans. The study shows that the human and chimp versions of FOXP2 do not look similar and even function differently as well. These findings may provide insight on why humans are born hardwired to speak and chimps are not.
The study has also found that FOXP2 switches other genes on and off. The researchers were surprised to find that the human and chimp forms of FOXP2 produced different effects on gene targets. This finding suggests to the researchers that FOXP2 drives genes to behave differently in humans and chimps. The research demonstrates how mutations could have led to FOXP2’s evolution in humans and chimpanzee brains. These changes between the two species could hold clues as to how the human brain evolved from chimpanzees.
The new information from this study will also help with common speech problems seen in humans like autism. This evidence may eventually lead to new possible drug targets in the brain to help people with autism and give them a way to communicate again.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091111130942.htm
-Sara Ku
Has other research shown that autism is correlated with a malfunction in the FOXP2 gene? Is there any known evidence as to how far back in the primate lineage this gene is found? If humans and chimps have it, but it serves a different function in each, I am curious to know in our common ancestor what function it served. I assume it served a similar function as that in chimps or we would all be able to speak.
ReplyDeleteposted by: Jess Bouchard
Really interesting post. What other genes does the FOXP2 gene turn off/on? Doesn't autism also have to do with under-development of the neo-cortex? I wonder exactly when this gene first evolved (which hominid species).
ReplyDelete- Deysha Rivera
This article is very interesting. It is funny to think about how we are so closely related to chimps, but one of the big differences between us in talking. Chimps make vocalizations, but can't talk. So I wonder what genes they have that turn on for vocalization?
ReplyDelete-Samantha Babcock
This article was really interesting. I never really thought about how chimps are unable to talk. Is this gene completely regulatory for speech do you know?? For instance if you were to take the gene out would the subject be completely mute or would there be even more devastating effects? Does this gene do anything else besides regulating speech, it sounds really familiar to me for some reason so I was just curious. Thanks!
ReplyDelete~Jessica Abu-Hijleh
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ReplyDeleteThis article was very interesting. Its crazy to think about how closely related we are to chips and how the biggest difference is speech. I also found it to be interesting that science is so advanced that scientists at UCLA are starting to be able to tell why we can speak and they cannot. great article!
ReplyDelete-Stephen Chiricosta
I have always wondered why humans and chimps are so closely related but chimps do not speak. We are something like 99% genetically the same. It is interesting that this FOXP2 gene affects the brains differently. Do other animals have a version of this FOXP2 gene?
ReplyDelete-Tricia Carlson
This is pretty cool! Is the FOXP2 gene found in any other animals, or a different/closely related version? I was taught in linguistics that primates could not speak because they were not physically capable because larynx drop. I wonder if they have anything to do with each other.
ReplyDelete-Alyson Paige
Interesting post. It is very exciting to know that this may help distinguish where our primate cousins separated from humans in the evolutionary tree. It is also relieving to know that by understanding where development of speech is located exactly we can possibly help disease associated with communication disorders.
ReplyDeleteCarlos Varela
I do not think that if the FOXP2 was damaged/removed it would cause a person to become mute but would rather impair their speech significantly. This is why they think they are closer to a possible treatment/cure for diseases that involve speech impairments. The article did not mention specific times at which they think the gene evolved or if it can be found in any other animals. The article mainly focused on the fact that this gene has evolved from chimpanzees which doesn't allow speech to a gene that allows humans to speak. Thanks for all the great comments!
ReplyDeleteSara Ku