FOXP2

FOXP2 ("forkhead box P2") is a gene that is implicated in the development of language skills.

Athough FOXP2 exists in many animals, the modern human form of FOXP2 appears to have evolved in Homo sapiens some time in the last 200,000 years.

Some biologists have linked the evolution of the modern human form of FOXP2 with the advent of modern human creativity and culture.

References:

Lai CSL, Fisher SE, Hurst JA, et al.: A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder. Nature 2001, 413:519-523.
Enard W, Przeworski M, Fisher SE, et al.: Molecular evolution of FOXP2, a gene involved in speech and language. Nature 2002, doi:10.1038/nature01025.

External links

News story about biological selection for mutated FOXP2 (http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20020815/02/)
Times newpaper story about FOXP2 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-580851,00.html)
http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/~simon/FOXP2/index.shtml
2002 FOXP2 paper by Enard et al. (http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/edg/pdf/FoxP.pdf) (pdf format)

		FOXP2
		FOXP2 ("forkhead box P2") is a gene that is implicated in the development of language skills. Athough FOXP2 exists in many animals, the modern human form of FOXP2 appears to have evolved in Homo sapiens some time in the last 200,000 years. Some biologists have linked the evolution of the modern human form of FOXP2 with the advent of modern human creativity and culture. References: Lai CSL, Fisher SE, Hurst JA, et al.: A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder. Nature 2001, 413:519-523. Enard W, Przeworski M, Fisher SE, et al.: Molecular evolution of FOXP2, a gene involved in speech and language. Nature 2002, doi:10.1038/nature01025. External links News story about biological selection for mutated FOXP2 (http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20020815/02/) Times newpaper story about FOXP2 (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-580851,00.html) http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/~simon/FOXP2/index.shtml 2002 FOXP2 paper by Enard et al. (http://www.zoology.ubc.ca/edg/pdf/FoxP.pdf) (pdf format)
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