Scientists Link Gene to Human Speech

A new study suggests the beginnings of human speech are linked to genetics. The research identifies a protein – found only in people – that may have helped early humans develop spoken communication.

一项新的研究表明，人类语言的起源与遗传学有关。 该研究发现了一种仅在人类中发现的蛋白质，它可能有助于早期人类发展语言交流。

Scientists involved in the study say this new speaking ability became important for humans’ survival. For example, speech permitted individuals to share information, organize activities and pass down knowledge. These abilities are now seen as an advantage humans had over their relatives, such as the Neanderthals and Denisovans.

参与这项研究的科学家表示，这种新的说话能力对人类的生存变得很重要。 例如，言语允许个人分享信息、组织活动和传递知识。 这些能力现在被视为人类相对于尼安德特人和丹尼索瓦人等近亲的优势。

The researchers recently published their findings in a study in the journal Nature Communications.

研究人员最近在《自然通讯》杂志上的一项研究中发表了他们的发现。

Liza Finestack teaches about speech and hearing at the University of Minnesota. She told The Associated Press (AP) the new study is "a good first step to start looking at the specific genes" that may affect speech and language development. Finestack was not involved in the study. Dr.

丽莎·芬斯塔克 (Liza Finestack) 在明尼苏达大学教授言语和听力课程。 她告诉美联社（美联社），这项新研究是“开始研究可能影响言语和语言发展的特定基因的良好第一步”。 Finestack 没有参与这项研究。博士。

Robert Darnell has long been studying the protein – called NOVA1 – at his laboratory at New York’s Rockefeller University. He helped lead the new research and was a writer of the study. Darnell told the AP the genetic version, or variant, included the protein that helped humans develop into the “dominant species” that remains today. The latest research involved scientists using CRISPR gene editing methods to replace the NOVA1 protein found in mice with the one found in humans.

罗伯特·达内尔 (Robert Darnell) 长期以来一直在纽约洛克菲勒大学的实验室研究这种名为 NOVA1 的蛋白质。 他帮助领导了这项新研究，并且是该研究的作者。 达内尔告诉美联社，基因版本或变体包含帮助人类发展成为今天仍然存在的“优势物种”的蛋白质。 最新研究涉及科学家使用 CRISPR 基因编辑方法，用人类中发现的蛋白替换小鼠中发现的 NOVA1 蛋白。

The aim was to test the real-life effects of the genetic variant. The researchers were surprised to learn that the variant changed the way the animals called out to each other. Baby mice with the human variant made a different sound than normal mice do when their mother came around.

目的是测试遗传变异对现实生活的影响。 研究人员惊讶地发现，这种变异改变了动物互相呼唤的方式。 当母亲出现时，携带人类变种的小老鼠发出的声音与正常老鼠不同。

Adult male mice with the variant also made different sounds when they were near a female they wanted to mate with. Darnell said both of these situations gave the mice a reason to speak.

当携带这种变异的成年雄性小鼠靠近它们想要交配的雌性小鼠时，它们也会发出不同的声音。 达内尔说，这两种情况都给了老鼠说话的理由。

Those with the human variant "spoke differently," demonstrating the gene’s influence in speech, he added. This is not the first time a gene has been linked to speech.

他补充说，那些携带人类变异的人“说话方式不同”，这证明了该基因对言语的影响。 这并不是第一次将基因与语言联系起来。

In 2001, British scientists said they had discovered the first gene tied to a language and speech disorder. Researchers called this human language gene FOXP2.

2001年，英国科学家表示，他们发现了第一个与语言和言语障碍有关的基因。 研究人员将这种人类语言基因称为 FOXP2。

But even though FOXP2 was found to be linked to human language, the variant in modern humans was not found in our species alone. Later research found it was shared with Neanderthals. The NOVA1 variant in modern humans, on the other hand, is found only in our species, Darnell said. The presence of a gene variant is not the only thing that permits people to speak.

尽管 FOXP2 被发现与人类语言有关，但现代人类的这种变异并不仅仅存在于我们这个物种中。 后来的研究发现它与尼安德特人共享。 达内尔说，另一方面，现代人类的 NOVA1 变异只在我们这个物种中发现。 基因变异的存在并不是使人们能够说话的唯一因素。

The ability also depends on physical elements in the human throat and areas of the brain that work together to help people produce speech and understand language. Darnell said he hopes the recent work can lead to new ways to treat speech-related problems.

这种能力还取决于人类喉咙和大脑区域中的物理元素，这些区域协同工作以帮助人们发出语音和理解语言。 达内尔说，他希望最近的工作能够带来治疗言语相关问题的新方法。

The University of Minnesota's Finestack noted the genetic findings could also one day permit scientists to identify people who might need help developing speech and language early in life.

明尼苏达大学的 Finestack 指出，这一基因发现有一天也能让科学家们识别出哪些人可能在生命早期就需要帮助发展言语和语言。

"That's certainly a possibility," she said.

“这当然有可能，”她说。

Laura Ungar reported this story for the Associated Press.

劳拉·昂加尔 (Laura Ungar) 为美联社报道了这个故事。

Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. ______________________________________________ advantage – n. something (such as a good position or condition) that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others specific – adj. special or particular variant – n. something that is different in some way from others of the same kind dominant – adj. more important, powerful, or successful than most or all others species – n. biology. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can reproduce CRISPR – n. short for CRISPR-Cas9, it is a genome-editing tool that allows scientists to precisely cut and modify DNA sequences. throat – n. the tube inside the neck that leads to the stomach and lungs What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments Section.

吉尔罗宾斯将其改编为学习英语。 _____________________________________________ 优势 – n.有助于使某人或某事比其他人更好或更有可能成功的事物（例如良好的职位或条件） 具体的 – adj.特别的或特别的 变体 – n.在某些方面与同类的其他东西不同的东西 占主导地位的 – adj.比大多数或所有其他人更重要、更强大或更成功 物种 – n.生物学。一群相似且可以繁殖的动物或植物 CRISPR – n.它是 CRISPR-Cas9 的缩写，是一种基因组编辑工具，可让科学家精确切割和修改 DNA 序列。 喉咙 – n.颈部内通向胃和肺的管子 你觉得这个故事怎么样？ 在评论部分给我们写信。