FOXP2 The “Language Gene“-

Presentation by Melanie Selle & Hüseyin Balim

Outline

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Introduction Discovery

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KE-family

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Pedigree of the KE family Description of F0XP2 Function FOXP2 in humanbeings

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Developmental dyspraxia FOXP2 in animals

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Songbirds Evolution Aspect and Scientific Background

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Scientists find gene 'switch' linked to speech

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The importance of being human * Mice Given 'Human' Version of Speech Gene* Conclusion References

Central Questions

Why can just a single gene have such a huge impact on our language ability?

What really differs animal from human communication?

Discovery

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1990 discovered by Myrna Gopnik During research on the KE family

KE family

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Affected family members exhibit specific language impairment

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Disorder is associated with a mutation in a single autosomal-dominant gene

Pedigree of the KE family

Where is the FOXP2 gene located?

• Correlation of sets of small stretches of DNA between affected and not affected members of the KE family  Variations in the small locus of the long arm of chromosome 7