Neandertals, humans share key changes to 'language gene'

A new study published online on October 18th in Current Biology reveals that adaptive changes in a human gene involved in speech and language were shared by our closest extinct relatives, the Neandertals. The finding reveals that the human form of the gene arose much earlier than scientists had estimated previously. It also raises the possibility that Neandertals possessed some of the prerequisites for language.

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<p><a href="http://www.physorg.com/news111933235.html">Neandertals, humans share key changes to 'language gene'</a></p> <p>A new study published online on October 18th in <i>Current Biology</i> reveals that adaptive changes in a human gene involved in speech and language were shared by our closest extinct relatives, the Neandertals. The finding reveals that the human form of the gene arose much earlier than scientists had estimated previously. It also raises the possibility that Neandertals possessed some of the prerequisites for language.</p>