This is my report on the evolution of speech and the main gene responsible, called FOXP2. (Figure 1 – FOXP2 Protein) The Foxp2 gene was found in choromosome 7q31 and encoding a 715 amino acid protein – Forkhead box P2 protein, which is a transcription factor. The Forkhead Box P2 protein has a Forkhead-Box DNA binding domain, which makes this protein one of the members of the FOX family of transcription factors. As we know, transcription factors regulate gene expression in different types of organ systems, such as the lungs, intestines, and home. (1) Figure 1For the first time, FOXP2 was identified as a language gene, in a famous KE family, or London family. This family was famous because of the digital language disorders they have in their family (30 people) over 3 generations. In 1990, Myrina Gopnik began her research with this family and reported the genetic origin of the language. Most recently, in 1998, Simon Fisher and his colleagues identified a small section of the 7th chromosome. Fisher's team discovers a particular mutation that affects the FOXP2 gene in the chromosomal region, causing many language disorders in the KE family. After these studies, Fisher began comparing different individuals with certain disorders and discovered that all had mutations in the FOXP2 gene. (6) (Figure 2 shows the pedigree of KE family) Regarding different studies, we know that FOXP2 is expressed in different areas of the brain, such as basal ganglia, frontal cortex and is important for the development of language and speech. Fisher and colleagues characterized different types of disorders in the KE family, such as word fragmentation and grammar problems. The interesting fact is that Fisher discovered that the IQ of the affected members was...... middle of article ......rgha-Khadem, F., Watkins, KE, Monaco, AP, & Pembrey, ME (1998). Location of a gene involved in a severe speech and language disorder. Nature Genetics, 18, 168-170. doi:10.1038/ng0298-168.7. Gopnik, Myrna and Goad, Heather. (1997). What causes genetic flexion error dysphasia? J. of Neurolinguistics, 10(2-3), 109-37. Photo references Figure 1. http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia% 2Fcommons %2F3%2F37%2FProtein_FOXP2_PDB_2a07.png&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFOXP2&h=594&w=995&tbnid=XnKZO35iUrvqkM%3A&zoom=1&docid=C4DzRP84lVuT pM&ei=L xhYU6a-O6WLyAOKloFI&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=143&page =1&start =0&ndsp=25&ved=0CFcQrQMwAAFigure 2. http://www.nature.com/nrn/journal/v6/n2/fig_tab/nrn1605_F1.htmlFigure 3. http://www.evolutionpages.com/images/FOXP2_mutations.jpg