Rapid Fire
NOVA 1
- 24 Feb 2025
- 2 min read
Recent research suggests that genetics played a key role in the evolution of human speech, with scientists linking the NOVA1 (Neuro-Oncological Ventral Antigen 1) gene to the development of spoken language.
- NOVA1:
- NOVA1 is a gene that produces a protein found in most mammals, playing a key role in processing genetic information, brain development, and neuron activity.
- Modern humans have a unique variant of this gene, distinguishing it from those found in Neanderthals and Denisovans (ancient human species).
- NOVA 1 Role in Speech Evolution:
- Scientists in an experiment replaced the NOVA1 variant in mice with the human version using CRISPR gene-editing.
- The modified mice showed distinct vocalizations, with altered distress calls in infants and more complex social squeaks in males, indicating that the gene influenced communication.
- FOXP2:
- FOXP2 is also a gene linked to speech and language. It is found in both humans and Neanderthals, while NOVA1 is unique to Homo sapiens, making it more likely to explain human speech evolution.
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