Posted on 10/21/2007 1:29:57 AM PDT by GodGunsGuts
Research shows Neanderthals may have talked
By Michael Kahn
Thu Oct 18, 4:06 PM ET
Neanderthals, often portrayed as grunting, club-carrying brutes, may have been capable of sophisticated speech, researchers said on Thursday.
A DNA analysis shows Neanderthals share with humans two key changes in the FOXP2 gene known to be involved in speech, raising the possibility the species possessed some prerequisites for language, the researchers said.
"From the point of this gene at least the Neanderthals could have had language like we do," said Johannes Krause, a biochemist at the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, who led the study.
But many as yet unknown genes may also underlie the capacity for language, the researchers added.
FOXP2 produces a protein that turns other genes on and off and people who carry a non-functioning copy of the gene have speech and language problems.
Animals ranging from mice to orangutans have the gene and scientists had thought a relatively small change in FOXP2 emerged just as humans did less than 200,000 years ago.
The findings published in Current Biology suggest the genetic variation occurred long before, potentially as long as 400,000 years ago.
"We were surprised to find the same variant of the FOXP2 gene that humans have," Krause said. "This suggests that the last common ancestor Neanderthal and humans shared had this gene."
Neanderthals were a dead-end offshoot of the human line who inhabited Europe and parts of west and central Asia. Research indicates they were expert tool-makers, used animal skins to keep warm and cared for each other.
Most researchers believe Neanderthals survived in Europe until the arrival of fully modern humans about 30,000 years ago although controversial findings last year suggested they might have survived until as recently as 24,000 years ago.
Nobody knows if Neanderthals could talk but this finding shows they had at least had a key genetic change required for speech -- an evolutionary edge critical for human survival, Krause said.
"Language is a more sophisticated way to pass on knowledge to the next generation," he said. "You live like an infant if you do not learn."
In their study, the researchers extracted DNA from a collection of Neanderthal remains recently excavated from a site in Northern Spain.
Because the bones were so well preserved, the scientists were also able to retrieve nuclear DNA from Neanderthals, opening the way for a more complete understanding of human and Neanderthal evolution, Krause said.
"Nuclear DNA is the DNA in the nucleus of the cell that makes up nearly all the genetic information people carry. We can now study every Neanderthal gene we are interested in."
For a great summary on the subject from a Creationist perspective, see the following:
http://www.detectingdesign.com/earlyman.html#Neanderthal
Well, how else could they sell insurance?
LOL!
ping
We have three dogs in our household. An English Pointer, a Springer Spaniel, and a Chihuahua. All three have essentially the same genes as a wolf. This is a good example of the pitfalls prevalent in judging by skeletal remains only.
I suspect that Neanderthals were us, just racially different.
The “inadequate” voice box structure that you’re referring to was the nonexistent hyoid bone that anthropologists kept noticing was absent in Neanderthal remains. Then these newer skeletal remains were found, and in such good shape that the hyoid, a very delicate bone, was discovered intact.
WOW! What a surprise. And I’m glad that DNA was found, too.
Neanderthal speech:
“Dance, Dance.”
“Gotta find a woman.”
“Move.”
“What?”
“I ain’t gonna lie to ya.”
“Right on. Hot Pants. Bluh Bluh...”
They made sophisticated tools, including the bow and arrow, they used fire, and buried their dead. They talked, even if they didn’t have vocal chords, and it doesn’t require an advanced degree in genetics to figure that out.
Most researchers believe Neanderthals survived in Europe until the arrival of fully modern humans about 30,000 years ago although controversial findings last year suggested they might have survived until as recently as 24,000 years ago.
Who says they have died out...one only has to look around ...there everywhere!
Science channel showed they could not talk but only make high pitch screams because of the size and shape of the voice box. I just love conflicting false info.
This continual speculation about the humanity of Neaderthals is getting pretty ridiculous.
Give one a shave and a bath, put them in a buiness suit in a modern city, and they wouldn;t stand out at all - just look like an exceptionally strong human.
They were human.
Anyone who doubts the possibility of Neanderthal speech is invited to examine Congressional transcripts for the past forty years.
Thanks for the ping!
Bump for ancient history.
Thanks so much for the ping to this highly interesting article, GGG!
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