The Most Interesting Email I Ever Received: Remembering the Incredible Life of DIY Geneticist Jill Viles
In 2013, ProPublica reporter David Epstein was contacted by a woman with a wild story and a batch of photos she believed were clues to the mystery of her condition. Turns out, she was right.
Gene NOVA1 linked to emergence of spoken language
https://apnews.com/article/speech-genetics-humans-neanderthals-2e1f956c9c794706000162072f0c0c41
Humanized NOVA1 splicing factor alters mouse vocal communications
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56579-2
https://www.science.org/content/article/eloquent-mice-point-protein-may-have-shaped-human-speech
* transgenic mice carrying human-specific NOVA1 variant
* molec/behav consequences
* mouse vocalization: more complex squeaks
* possibly contributes to develop. of spoken language thru differential RNA regulation during brain development
#biology #evolution #language #genetics #FunctionalGenetics #NOVA1
Researchers link a gene to the emergence of spoken language
Why did humans start speaking? Scientists suggest genetics played a big role. They say the evolution of this singular ability has been key to our survival. A new study links a particular gene to the ancient origins of spoken language. Researchers at Rockefeller University say a protein variant found only in humans may have helped us communicate in a novel way, giving us an edge over extinct cousins like Neanderthals. When put in mice, it changed the way they vocalized when they called out to each other. The research was published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.
Ancient gene influences immunity of First Nations Peoples of Oceania
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241029120655.htm
* may make First Nations inhabitants of Oceania susceptible to infectious diseases like influenza
* 30% those individuals carry allele: ~5M people
An archaic HLA class I receptor allele diversifies natural killer cell-driven immunity in First Nations peoples of Oceania
https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(24)01153-X
#genomics #genetics #FunctionalGenetics #ArchaicGenes #Oceania #evolution #GeneVariants #immunology #immunity
Ancient gene influences immunity of First Nations Peoples of Oceania
An ancient gene mutation among First Nations inhabitants of Oceania may make them more susceptible to infectious diseases like influenza, according to a new study.
Victoria Stuart 🇨🇦 🏳️⚧️