Latest news with #vocalization
Sustainability Times
02-07-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Human Gene Makes Mice Speak': Scientists Alter Rodents With Language DNA and Trigger Startling Changes in Vocal Behavior
IN A NUTSHELL 🧬 Scientists inserted the human-specific NOVA1 gene into mice, revealing significant changes in their vocalizations . gene into mice, revealing significant changes in their . 🔊 Modified mice produced higher-pitched squeaks and different sound mixes, providing insight into communication evolution. evolution. 🧠 The NOVA1 gene plays a crucial role in brain development and influences genes associated with vocalization . gene plays a crucial role in brain development and influences genes associated with . 🌍 This research enhances our understanding of human evolution and the genetic basis of advanced language skills. In a stunning leap for genetic research, scientists have managed to insert a human gene into mice, resulting in unexpectedly altered vocalizations. This groundbreaking experiment, conducted at Rockefeller University, has revealed that a small genetic change can have significant effects on communication. By introducing the human-specific NOVA1 gene into mice, researchers have opened new avenues for understanding the evolution of vocal communication, shedding light on how humans may have developed their advanced language skills. A Genetic Change That Alters Communication The NOVA1 gene is crucial for brain development and is present across many species, including mammals and birds. A unique variation of this gene is found only in humans, producing a protein vital for vocalization. At Rockefeller University, scientists introduced this human version of NOVA1 into mice to explore its role in communication. The findings were remarkable. Baby mice with the humanized NOVA1 gene exhibited different vocalizations compared to those with the typical mouse version. When calling to their mothers, these modified mice produced higher-pitched squeaks and a different mix of sounds. These changes are not just minor; they provide critical insights into how complex vocal communication might have evolved over time. This experiment underscores the potential for genetic modifications to influence communication patterns, offering a glimpse into the genetic basis of language evolution. 'Time Was Here First': Mind-Blowing Discovery Reveals the Universe Was Born from Time Itself, Not from Space at All The Role of NOVA1 in Mice Vocalization In their natural state, baby mice use ultrasonic squeaks to communicate with their mothers. Scientists categorize these sounds into four basic 'letters': S, D, U, and M. When the human version of NOVA1 was inserted, the modified mice's sounds differed significantly from wild-type mice. Some 'letters' in their squeaks changed entirely, indicating that the genetic modification influenced their ability to produce and potentially understand vocalizations. As these mice matured, the changes became more pronounced. Male mice, in particular, produced a wider variety of high-frequency calls during courtship. These alterations in vocal patterns suggest that genetic expression changes could impact the evolution of communication and behavior, providing a window into how complex communication systems might arise within a species. 'Google Just Changed Everything': This Ruthless New AI Reads 1 Million Human DNA Letters Instantly and Scientists Are Stunned NOVA1: A Key Player in Evolutionary Communication The NOVA1 gene encodes a protein involved in RNA binding, essential for brain development and movement control. While the human and mouse versions of NOVA1 function similarly, the human version uniquely affects genes related to vocalization. The study revealed that many genes associated with vocalization are binding targets of NOVA1, indicating the gene's direct role in regulating vocal communication. This ability to influence specific genes might explain why humans developed advanced language skills compared to other species. Human-Specific Genetic Variants and Evolution Interestingly, the human version of NOVA1 is absent in other hominin species like Neanderthals and Denisovans. These extinct relatives shared a similar NOVA1 version but lacked the human-specific variant causing the I197V amino acid change. This discovery enriches our understanding of human evolution and the origins of speech. 'Like a Floating Magic Carpet': Newly Discovered Deep-Sea Creature Stuns Scientists With Its Surreal, Otherworldly Movements Professor Robert Darnell, who led the study, speculated that this genetic shift may have given early humans an evolutionary advantage. Darnell noted, 'We thought, wow. We did not expect that. It was one of those really surprising moments in science.' This genetic change might have been crucial in allowing Homo sapiens to develop sophisticated communication skills, distinguishing them from other species. This insight prompts intriguing questions: Could enhanced communication abilities have been decisive for the survival and success of Homo sapiens? The researchers suggest that this NOVA1 shift could have been pivotal in our species' ability to thrive, while other hominins, lacking this trait, eventually declined. This groundbreaking research on the NOVA1 gene not only opens new paths for scientific inquiry but also raises critical questions about our own evolution. How might further understanding of such genetic shifts illuminate the path of human development, and could these insights lead to revolutionary advances in genetic medicine and therapy? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.7/5 (26)
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Genetic Mystery of Why Cats Purr May Finally Be Solved
A study from Japan has identified potential genes behind cat purrs, and the discovery could help us understand why our furry companions make these contented rumblings. Despite humanity's long relationship with domestic cats (Felis catus), the purr remains mysterious, and its purpose is still up for debate. So is whether similar vocal vibrations in big cats also count as purrs, or if the phenomenon is unique to the smaller members of the cat family. The new information may eventually help solve some of these outstanding questions. Analyzing the DNA and owner-reported behavior of 280 domestic cats, Kyoto University biologist Yume Okamoto and colleagues identified a gene linked to purring and other forms of cat vocalizations. Cats with short-type androgen receptor genes were reported to purr more by their owners than those with a long-type. Male cats with this short-type gene were also reported to be more vocal towards humans. Androgen receptors mainly regulate testosterone, so the length of the gene likely influences testosterone-related behaviors, which include vocalization. By examining this gene across 11 cat species, the researchers found the long-type version was only present in domestic cats. Even their closest relatives, the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) and leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), did not have the longer forms of the gene, suggesting it arose during cat domestication. Previous research found pure-bred cats are more likely to have the long-type gene than mixed-breed cats, which often began life as strays. As such, the researchers suspect cats consistently raised by humans aren't as dependent on vocal communication for their survival, allowing cats with the long-type genetic variation to survive in the pure-bred population. "This result aligns with the association between purring and vocal communication as strategies for seeking attention or support, benefiting survival through interactions with both cats and humans," Okamoto and team write in their paper. Cats also purr when they are severely injured, so some researchers have proposed purring could be a healing mechanism too. A few years ago, researchers found squishy pads in cat vocal cords produce the low-pitched vibrations without muscle contractions, so the 25- to 30-Hz rumble is, to some extent, automated. We're gradually getting a better understanding of this soothing cat behavior. "Through our research, we hope to deepen our understanding of cats and contribute to building happier relationships between cats and humans," says Okamoto. This research was published in PLOS One. There's an Invisible Line That Animals Don't Cross. Here's Why. Dehorning Rhinos Cuts Poaching by 78% – Saving Thousands of Animals' Lives Worms Use Their Bodies to Build Towers as a Wild Survival Strategy
CBC
18-05-2025
- Science
- CBC
Is it a bird? A bug? Nope, just a spring peeper
The chorus of chirps and peeps fill the evenings each year — and it's a sure sign of spring. But what is making the noise? It's a type of frog called a spring peeper. Widely distributed in eastern North America, including New Brunswick, the spring peeper is only about three to four centimetres long, with females being a bit bigger than males, explained John Klymko, a zoologist with the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre in Sackville. "They're far more conspicuous with their vocalizations than they are visually," he said. "They're a hard species to find. They live in wooded areas, thickets, that sort of thing, around water bodies." At night, Klymko said they can be spotted around water bodies. He said their peeps will quiet down when you approach, but you can see them by their shining eyes. And on warm, wet nights, they might be found crossing roadways. It's much easier, though, to listen for their vocalizations to be aware of their presence, said Klymko. He said the frogs have a vocal pouch, which looks like a balloon, that expands under their chin and amplifies the noise that's produced by pushing air through slits in their mouth. They make two types of sounds. The primary one, said Klymko, is the classic peep noise that males use to draw females in with the hope of mating. Another sound is a short trill that happens when two males interact with each other. "It's just males making the sound," he said. "Some males don't vocalize. They'll hang out near males that are vocalizing and try to intercept females that are coming in, drawn to those calls. "When you think about the abundance of these frogs at a water body, realize that, you know, you're hearing less than half of the frogs out there." For those interested in hearing the springtime peeps, it's best to listen now before the frogs disperse in early June, said Klymko.
