Recent Research on the Origins of Language Suggests That a Key

question 29

Multiple Choice

Recent research on the origins of language suggests that a key mutation might have something to do with it. Comparing chimp and human genomes, it appears that

• A) a speech-friendly mutation occurred among Neandertals in Europe and spread to other human populations through gene flow.
• B) chimps lack the tongue-rolling gene that all humans have, which might explain why they struggle to achieve clear speech.
• C) the speech-friendly form of the gene FOXP2 took hold in humans some 150,000 years ago.
• D) chimps share with humans all the genetic propensities for language but lack the language-activation mutation.
• E) the speech mutation occurred even before the hominin line split from the rest of the hominids.

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Definitions:

Expanded

Increased in volume or size, often by the introduction of air or in response to heat.

New Pressure

An unspecified or novel force applied uniformly over a surface, measured typically in units such as pascals.

Compressed

Subjected to increased pressure or compacted into a smaller volume.

New Pressure

A term potentially referring to a fresh or recently applied force per unit area, not recognized as a standard scientific term.