Bird Brains and Human Brains, or the FoxP2 gene & Dubya?

[DemBones DemBones]

"I Imply, You Decide." :evilgrin:


I was just browsing around the Scientific American site and turned up this article:


Birds Share 'Language' Gene with Humans

The process by which baby birds learn to sing shares a number of traits with that by which toddlers learn to talk. Now researchers have identified a common gene between birds and people that underlies both abilities. The discovery marks the start of an effort to explore the genetic underpinnings of vocal learning.

Vocal learning is characteristic of a number of animals, including humans, dolphins, whales and birds. To probe how genetics guides this process, Sebastian Haesler of the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin and Kazuhiro Wada of Duke University Medical Center and their colleagues focused on a gene known as FoxP2, mutatation of which is associated with language problems in people. "In affected humans, the mutation causes a very specific dysfunction," study co-author Erich Jarvis of Duke University explains. "These people have largely normal motor coordination, but an inability to correctly pronounce words or form them into grammatically correct sentences. What’s more, they have trouble understanding complex language." The team analyzed expression of FoxP2 in a number of bird species, both vocal learners and nonlearners, and in crocodiles, the closest living relative of birds.

more. . .

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=000C79B4-EA89-1069-AA8983414B7F0000