Recent research on the origins of language suggests that a key mutation might have something to do with it. Comparing chimp and human genomes, it appears that
A. chimps lack the tongue-rolling gene that all humans have, which might explain why they struggle to achieve clear speech.
B. chimps share with humans all the genetic propensities for language but lack the language-activation mutation.
C. a speech-friendly mutation occurred among Neandertals in Europe and spread to other human populations through gene flow.
D. the speech-friendly form of the gene FOXP2 took hold in humans some 150,000 years ago.
E. the speech mutation occurred even before the hominin line split from the rest of the hominids.
Question 2
Which of the following statements about chimpanzee call systems is NOT true?
A. They consist of a limited number of sounds.
B. Like language, they include displacement and cultural transmission.
C. They consist of sounds that vary in intensity and duration.
D. Calls cannot be combined when multiple stimuli are present.
E. They are stimuli dependent.
The bicoid mutation in Drosophila.
Nonsense mutation
Geographies of Language
Research Terminology
RESEARCH TECHNIQUE
Mutation analysis of the -globin gene promoter