 Speechless for Lack of a Gene
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Dec. 12, 2003 — A comparison of genomes in humans and chimpanzees suggests that a genetic divergence in hearing may have allowed humans to develop speech while leaving our close cousins verbally challenged, said a study published Thursday.
The comparative study of the genetic makeups of people and chimps, which are genetically almost 99 percent identical, showed that some processes such as hearing and smell evolved more rapidly in humans, according to the research published in the magazine Science.
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Genes related to these processes could explain in part why chimps and humans are as different as they are, according to researcher Andrew Clark of Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. His team sequenced more than 7,000 chimpanzee genes before comparing them to the same genes in humans and in monkeys.
Researchers tried to determine which genetic differences were due to chance and which were due to genetic selection, a process that would give an evolutionary benefit from one generation to the next.
They found that several genes involved in the development of the inner ear and hearing appeared to have undergone genetic selection in man. Researchers put forward the hypotheses that human language development would have required sharper hearing.
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Name: Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)
Primary Classification: Hominidae (Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Orangutans and Humans) Location: Western and Central equatorial Africa. Habitat: Tropical rainforest and savannah, usually at high elevations. Diet: Mostly fruits and leaves. Also flowers, seeds, insects and occasionally meat. Size: Up to 3 feet in length and 130 lbs in weight. Description: Sparse, black hair over most of the body; pinkish to black skin on their faces; arms longer than legs; opposable thumbs and toes. Cool Facts: The closest living relatives to humans, their DNA matches ours by 99 percent. They use a wide variety of tools including blades of grass to "fish" for termites, leaf "sponges" to soak up water, and rocks to smash shells and hard fruit. They have been observed using medical plants to treat themselves and others for illness and injury. Conservation Status: Endangered Major Threats: Deforestation, fragmentation of habitat, and hunting for the bushmeat trade. What Can I Do?: Visit The Jane Goodall Institute and The Great Ape Project for information on how you can help. |
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