Scientists Link Gene to Human Speech
2025-03-09
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1A new study suggests the beginnings of human speech are linked to genetics.
2The research identifies a protein - found only in people - that may have helped early humans develop spoken communication.
3Scientists involved in the study say this new speaking ability became important for humans' survival.
4For example, speech permitted individuals to share information, organize activities and pass down knowledge.
5These abilities are now seen as an advantage humans had over their relatives, such as the Neanderthals and Denisovans.
6The researchers recently published their findings in a study in the journal Nature Communications.
7Liza Finestack teaches about speech and hearing at the University of Minnesota.
8She told The Associated Press (AP) the new study is "a good first step to start looking at the specific genes" that may affect speech and language development.
9Finestack was not involved in the study.
10Dr. Robert Darnell has long been studying the protein - called NOVA1 - at his laboratory at New York's Rockefeller University.
11He helped lead the new research and was a writer of the study.
12Darnell told the AP the genetic version, or variant, included the protein that helped humans develop into the "dominant species" that remains today.
13The latest research involved scientists using CRISPR gene editing methods to replace the NOVA1 protein found in mice with the one found in humans.
14The aim was to test the real-life effects of the genetic variant.
15The researchers were surprised to learn that the variant changed the way the animals called out to each other.
16Baby mice with the human variant made a different sound than normal mice do when their mother came around.
17Adult male mice with the variant also made different sounds when they were near a female they wanted to mate with.
18Darnell said both of these situations gave the mice a reason to speak.
19Those with the human variant "spoke differently," demonstrating the gene's influence in speech, he added.
20This is not the first time a gene has been linked to speech.
21In 2001, British scientists said they had discovered the first gene tied to a language and speech disorder.
22Researchers called this human language gene FOXP2.
23But even though FOXP2 was found to be linked to human language, the variant in modern humans was not found in our species alone.
24Later research found it was shared with Neanderthals.
25The NOVA1 variant in modern humans, on the other hand, is found only in our species, Darnell said.
26The presence of a gene variant is not the only thing that permits people to speak.
27The ability also depends on physical elements in the human throat and areas of the brain that work together to help people produce speech and understand language.
28Darnell said he hopes the recent work can lead to new ways to treat speech-related problems.
29The University of Minnesota's Finestack noted the genetic findings could also one day permit scientists to identify people who might need help developing speech and language early in life.
30"That's certainly a possibility," she said.
31I'm Jill Robbins.
1A new study suggests the beginnings of human speech are linked to genetics. The research identifies a protein - found only in people - that may have helped early humans develop spoken communication. 2Scientists involved in the study say this new speaking ability became important for humans' survival. For example, speech permitted individuals to share information, organize activities and pass down knowledge. These abilities are now seen as an advantage humans had over their relatives, such as the Neanderthals and Denisovans. 3The researchers recently published their findings in a study in the journal Nature Communications. 4Liza Finestack teaches about speech and hearing at the University of Minnesota. She told The Associated Press (AP) the new study is "a good first step to start looking at the specific genes" that may affect speech and language development. Finestack was not involved in the study. 5Dr. Robert Darnell has long been studying the protein - called NOVA1 - at his laboratory at New York's Rockefeller University. He helped lead the new research and was a writer of the study. Darnell told the AP the genetic version, or variant, included the protein that helped humans develop into the "dominant species" that remains today. 6The latest research involved scientists using CRISPR gene editing methods to replace the NOVA1 protein found in mice with the one found in humans. The aim was to test the real-life effects of the genetic variant. The researchers were surprised to learn that the variant changed the way the animals called out to each other. 7Baby mice with the human variant made a different sound than normal mice do when their mother came around. Adult male mice with the variant also made different sounds when they were near a female they wanted to mate with. 8Darnell said both of these situations gave the mice a reason to speak. Those with the human variant "spoke differently," demonstrating the gene's influence in speech, he added. 9This is not the first time a gene has been linked to speech. In 2001, British scientists said they had discovered the first gene tied to a language and speech disorder. 10Researchers called this human language gene FOXP2. But even though FOXP2 was found to be linked to human language, the variant in modern humans was not found in our species alone. Later research found it was shared with Neanderthals. The NOVA1 variant in modern humans, on the other hand, is found only in our species, Darnell said. 11The presence of a gene variant is not the only thing that permits people to speak. The ability also depends on physical elements in the human throat and areas of the brain that work together to help people produce speech and understand language. 12Darnell said he hopes the recent work can lead to new ways to treat speech-related problems. 13The University of Minnesota's Finestack noted the genetic findings could also one day permit scientists to identify people who might need help developing speech and language early in life. 14"That's certainly a possibility," she said. 15I'm Jill Robbins. 16Laura Ungar reported this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. 17______________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19advantage - n. something (such as a good position or condition) that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others 20specific - adj. special or particular 21variant - n. something that is different in some way from others of the same kind 22dominant - adj. more important, powerful, or successful than most or all others 23species - n. biology. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can reproduce 24CRISPR - n. short for CRISPR-Cas9, it is a genome-editing tool that allows scientists to precisely cut and modify DNA sequences. 25throat - n. the tube inside the neck that leads to the stomach and lungs 26What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments Section.