FOXP2 -The “Language Gene“- Presentation by Melanie Selle & Hüseyin Balim

Outline Introduction Discovery –KE-family –Pedigree of the KE family Description of F0XP2 Function FOXP2 in humanbeings –Developmental dyspraxia FOXP2 in animals –Songbirds Evolution Aspect and Scientific Background –Scientists find gene 'switch' linked to speechScientists find gene 'switch' linked to speech –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 1990 discovered by Myrna Gopnik During research on the KE family

KE family Affected family members exhibit specific language impairment 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