NOVA1, a neuronal RNA-binding protein expressed in the central nervous system, is essential for survival in mice and normal development in humans. A single amino acid change (I197V) in NOVA1’s second RNA binding domain is unique to modern humans. To study its physiological effects, we generated mice carrying the human-specific I197V variant (Nova1hu/hu) and analyzed the molecular and behavioral consequences. While the I197V substitution had minimal impact on NOVA1’s RNA binding capacity, it led to specific effects on alternative splicing, and CLIP revealed multiple binding peaks in mouse brain transcripts involved in vocalization. These molecular findings were associated with behavioral differences in vocalization patterns in Nova1hu/hu mice as pups and adults. Our findings suggest that this human-specific NOVA1 substitution may have been part of an ancient evolutionary selective sweep in a common ancestral population of Homo sapiens, possibly contributing to the development of spoken language through differential RNA regulation during brain development.
Researchers identify gene linked to origins of spoken language.
More like: Researchers identify gene change in humans, that is leads to vocalisation differences when changed in Mice. Researchers speculate gene change is linked to origins of spoken language.
We really need more nuance in scientific reporting. These headlines are so filled with hyperbole they become close to outright lies.
It would be wild if we could use this to make animals talk.
This is so absurd it twisted my brain. Ten years ago, I could have dismissed your statement as completely infeasible. Now? Would I be surprised if, through the agonizing sacrifice of hundreds of failed attempts in some deregulated research facility, scientists successfully used CRISPR gene editing and human brain organoids to create some abomination that technically could be called classified as a talking animal. I mean probably not but, yea, that’d be wild wouldn’t it.
An expanded genomic analysis of the dbSNP database revealed that this substitution was present in all but six of 650,058 human sequences, five of which were from individuals of Asian descent (Supplementary Fig. 1a). As the samples are deidentified, it is not possible to assess additional details about these individuals.
Seems like we could learn a lot more about the effects of this substitution by finding and studying some of the modern humans who don’t have it, rather than by introducing it into mice.
we generated mice
The mouse generator:
