Mystery of Language Solved? This DNA Change May Have Given Humans the Ability to Speak

Scientists have long sought answers to the question of what made humans gain the ability to speak. A new study published in the journal Nature Communications by a team led by Dr. Robert B. Darnell suggests that changes in the FOXP2 and NOVA1 genes may have played a key role in this process. How did they affect the development of language skills?

The FOXP2 gene encodes a protein belonging to the Forkhead box family of transcription factors that regulates the expression of many genes. It is active in various tissues of the body, including the brain, heart, and digestive system. In animals, FOXP2 is responsible for communication processes , including bird song and bat echolocation. In humans, its mutations lead to speech and language disorders, such as developmental apraxia of speech.

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Analysis of the genomes of extinct human relatives, including Neanderthals and Denisovans, showed that they had an identical version of FOXP2 to modern humans.

Research by scientists from Rockefeller University has shown that the NOVA1 gene also played a significant role in the evolution of language skills. It codes for the Nova-1 protein, which is responsible for the development of the nervous system and neuromuscular control - necessary for the correct operation of the speech apparatus. The version of NOVA1 present in humans is different from that present in our ancestors.

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Experiments in mice that had been introduced with a human variant of NOVA1 showed changes in the animals’ vocalizations, suggesting that the gene had an impact on the development of speech . FOXP2 and NOVA1 were expressed in areas of the brain responsible for language, particularly the basal ganglia and frontal cortex.

Mice lacking FOXP2 had difficulty making coherent sounds , and complete absence of both copies of the gene caused severe disruptions in brain and lung development. Both genes affect the activity of many others related to synaptic function and neuronal communication.

Although FOXP2 and NOVA1 are not the only genes involved in human speech, their specific mutations may have influenced the development of language in Homo sapiens. Studies suggest that interactions between these genes led to the development of a more complex neural network , enabling precise control of the speech apparatus and more advanced language processing.

Better understanding of the mechanisms of action of these genes allows for a deeper knowledge of human evolution and opens up new possibilities in the diagnosis and treatment of speech disorders (e.g. aphasia or developmental apraxia of speech). Further research may help to discover additional genetic factors that have shaped humans' unique ability for verbal communication.