Neanderthals Possess "Language Gene"

Language is often viewed as the deciding factor in what distinguishes humans from other animals. Language creates culture, which is in a sense a uniquely human trait. But recent findings may support that another species other than humans possessed the ability to speak.

Scientists have associated the ability for humans to use spoken language with the FOXP2 gene locus. For a long time scientists have believed that a mutation to this gene locus approximately 200,000 years ago gave humans the physical capabilities to utilize spoken language. The mutation in the FOXP2 gene is believed to be unique to humans, giving them the ability to speak through its control of the lips, tongues, and larynx. However, recent discoveries demonstrate that Neanderthals, from whom the human lineage diverged about 300,000 years ago, may have had the abilities to use spoken language. DNA extractions from Neanderthal fossils found in a cave in Spain were studied by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, and the scientists found that the DNA contained the identical FOXP2 mutation that is present in human beings. The data suggests that an ancestor common to both Neanderthals and humans may have first had this mutated trait.

This finding makes Neanderthals even more similar to humans than chimpanzees are in terms of genetics (as chimpanzees have a FOXP2 locus differing in two places from humans). The difference in the FOXP2 gene between chimpanzees and humans is thought to be the key element in determining why humans can speak and chimpanzees cannot.

Mice experiments with FOXP2 in which mice were given human copies of the gene gives insight to the possibilities of the genes affect on the mind. The mice made strange sounds and grew extra neural connections in their brains. However, overall, the mice simulated normal behavior.

Because it is not clear exactly how FOXP2 functions, scientists have a wide range of opinions about the discoveries, some more critical than others. Dr. Simon Fisher of Oxford University, claims that “This is a really fascinating study, but analysis of a single gene is not enough to resolve the big question of whether or not Neanderthals were capable of speech or for us to estimate what level of complexity their vocal communication could achieve." Some are also suspicious that the Neanderthal bones were contaminated with human DNA, therefore explaining the presence of the FOXP2 gene found in humans. However, the experts insist that the DNA was collected correctly, including an elaborate freezing process and little chance for contamination. Some people believe that the presence of FOXP2 is a result of gene flow due to interbreeding between Neanderthals and humans, but others argue that this is not probable. A general consensus however, seems to be that the new studies and future studies regarding the Neanderthal genome will revolutionise the way in which we view our Neanderthal ancestors. This discovery is the first time that a specific gene of a Neanderthal has been able to be analyzed, giving much more insight into the Neanderthals than we had in the past.

If Neanderthals really did have a spoken language, then perhaps they also had a culture. This discovery may potentially change our perspective on the Neanderthals. We tend to view them as uncivilized, unsophisticated, unintelligent, animal-like savages, but the idea that they may have had a language and even a culture shatters this view. They in fact may have been more similar to modern day human beings than we have imagined.

I find it interesting that this story was all over the internet. The Neanderthals are an extinct species living hundreds of thousands of years ago, yet there is so much interest in learning about them. Although the story is fascinating and a breakthrough in studying our ancestry, whether or not they had a spoken language does not really directly effect us as humans. Why is there so much excitement over this issue? What fascinates us so much about the possibility of a Neanderthal language?

Links:
http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=65818
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/20/nbrute120.xml
http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/22/stories/2007102255892000.htm
http://www.firstscience.com/home/perspectives/editorials/could-neanderthals-speak_38144.html
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/86101.php
http://www.wilmingtonstar.com/article/20071019/NEWS/710190374/-1/State
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003964988_language21.html