A new study has revealed a single genetic mutation. found in all modern humans but absent in Neanderthals and Denisovans, could have played a role in the evolution of speech and language. The research, published in Nature Communications, shows that mice engineered to carry the human version of this gene produced more complex vocalizations than normal, suggesting a possible link between genetics and the unique way humans communicate.
A Gene That Sets Humans Apart
The gene in question, NOVA1, plays a crucial role in brain function by regulating the activity of dozens of other genes. Neuroscientist Robert Darnell of Rockefeller University identified it 30 years ago while studying a movement disorder. Over time, he and other researchers began to suspect that NOVA1 might be involved in speech.
Unlike Neanderthals and other extinct hominins, nearly every modern human carries a specific mutation in NOVA1. This small genetic change, which swaps a single amino acid in the protein, appeared sometime in the last 500,000 years and spread universally, suggesting that it provided a strong evolutionary advantage.
Mice With Human-Like Vocalizations
To explore the effects of this mutation, neuroscientist Yoko Tajima and colleagues used CRISPR gene editing to introduce the human version of NOVA1 into mice. When they analyzed the modified rodents, they found subtle yet intriguing differences in how the vocalized
Newborn pups with the humanized gene produced different distress calls when separated from their mothers, while adult male mice made more complex mating calls when exposed to a female. These findings suggest that NOVA1 may influence vocal behavior, shedding light on the genetic origins of human speech.