FoxP2 in song-learning birds and vocal-learning mammals
Abstract
FoxP2 is the first identified gene that is specifically involved in speech and language development in humans. Population genetic studies of FoxP2 revealed a selective sweep in recent human history associated with two amino acid substitutions in exon 7. Avian song learning and human language acquisition share many behavioral and neurological similarities. To determine whether FoxP2 plays a similar role in song-learning birds, we sequenced exon 7 of FoxP2 in multiple song-learning and nonlearning birds. We show extreme conservation of FoxP2 sequences in birds, including unusually low rates of synonymous substitutions. However, no amino acid substitutions are shared between the song-learning birds and humans. Furthermore, sequences from vocal-learning whales, dolphins, and bats do not share the human-unique substitutions. While FoxP2 appears to be under strong functional constraints in mammals and birds, we find no evidence for its role during the evolution of vocal learning in nonhuman animals as in humans.
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Convergent evolution is often hypothesized to occur in the absence of a very strict notion of convergence; for instance, convergent evolution in the domain of vocal learning is related to non-identical changes in FOXP2 across vocal learners.
“given that convergent evolution is often hypothesized to occur in the absence of this very strict notion of convergence—for instance, convergent evolution in the domain of vocal learning is related to non-identical changes in FOXP2 across vocal learners [134]”
From Self-domestication in Homo sapiens: Insights from comparative genomics (2017) · cites this paper as [134]
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“Since both vocal learning and non-vocal learning birds possess identical FoxP2 genes (Webb and Zhang, 2005), and the birds’ FoxP2 genes are distinct from those of humans, differences in this gene alone cannot be what accounts for the vocal learning/non-learning distinction in birdsong.”
- Authors
- Webb, D. M., & Zhang, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Michigan (US)
- Corresponding author
- Webb, D. M.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Journal of Heredity
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2004-12-23
- Volume
- 96
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 212-216
- ISSN
- 0022-1503 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-7333
- OpenAlex
- W2121388266
- Cited by
- 61
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 3.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Heredity (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Michigan
- Pennsylvania State University
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM67030, R01GM067030)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology › Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Social Sciences › Cultural Studies › Language and cultural evolution
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Keywords
- FOXP2, song learning, vocal learning, bird song, human language evolution, exon 7, synonymous substitutions, functional constraints, whales, dolphins, bats, comparative genomics, selective sweeps
- MeSH terms
- Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Base Sequence, Exons, Humans, Language, Language Development, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid, Speech, Sequence Homology, Amino Acid, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Evolution, Molecular, Songbirds, Forkhead Transcription Factors
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