Genetic effects suggest FOXP2 role in language evolution

Human version of the protein alters activity of 116 genes compared with the chimp version

Silver-tongued humans may owe their language prowess to a foxy friend. A new study provides more evidence that the human version of a protein known as FOXP2 may have aided the evolution of language.

Chimpanzees and many other animals have FOXP2, but the human version differs at two links in the chain of amino acids that make up the protein.