Scientists ID 2,000 Genes in Zebra Finch Brain Linked to Singing: May Teach Us About Human Speech Disorders

[caption id="attachment_3942" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Male zebra finches learn to sing a courtship song between 35 days and 100 days after hatching, which is when they are sexually mature."][/caption]

In this article published by Science Daily Zebra Finch have thousands of genes that allow for singing.  The genes are located in an area of the brain called area X.  Previously scientists did not know just how many genes are involved with speech.  Area X is located in the male Finch's basal ganglia which is also true for humans.  Language is only used by humans but the ability to create new sounds is a skill we share with the Finch.  FoxP2 is the master gene for human speech and speech disorders in Area X.  A mutation in the FoxP2 gene caused a speech disorder in a family in England and a study was published in 2001.  Every family member that was affected with a speech disorder had the same mutation of the FoxP2 gene.  Scientists recently have been learning that behaviors change the way our brain operates.  When you conduct a certain activity specific genes are turned on.  The basal ganglia was removed from a Finch to study the genes.  Scientists have identified most of the genes used for speech in the Finch but so far we do not have that same knowledge for humans.

I think that finding the gene mutation for speech disorders is an important area of research.  Being able to correct the mutation would cure speech disorders which prevent people in participating in some activities and plague their life.   They need to study these genes in other species of animals to determine if it plays a similar role.