More on the 'speech' gene

This paper will come out in in this week's nature. WHile this gene is not THE speech gene, it appears to control genes that are involved. Mutations in this gene have a tremendous effect on the ability to speak and understand grammar. The fact that mice, monkeys, chimps and gorillas have very similar genes, indicates that it is very important and its sequence has been conserved. But humans have a couple of changes in the sequence and it has happened recently in geologic time. Neat.  11:32:06 PM    

Speech from a few changes in a gene?

Gene study gives language lesson. New Scientist Aug 14 2002 2:16PM ET [Moreover - moreover...]

While speech is not controled by one gene, it is interesting that a gene that has been shown to be critical for proper speech is virtually identical between mice and primates, except man. In humans, this gene has 2 changes that only arose in the last 200,000 years. This is just about the time proposed for the human 'Eve' based on mitochondrial data. What a coincidence!  11:22:39 PM    

Scientists shocked at GM gene transfer. Guardian Unlimited Aug 14 2002 8:37PM ET [Moreover - moreover...]

Now, this is the main problem with GM crops. They do not necessarily stay where you want them too, or, at least, their genes move into other varieties. In this case, important recombinant genes in modified plants move into weed species of the same plant. On an intellectual level, this is evolution in action and demonstrates in very definable terms the ability of new genes to spread in a species. For companies making GM material, it could be a big problem. While many crops are not hampered by weed varieties, there are many types where the appearance of stronger weed strains could be devastating.  11:05:06 PM