Studies in knockout mice have demonstrated an important role of the FOXP2 transcription factor in the development of vocalizations. Recent sequence comparisons of the FOXP2 gene in Neanderthals and modern humans show that while the DNA sequence may be different, the protein sequence it codes for is identical. Which of the following conclusions might logically be inferred from this information?
A) Because different DNA sequences cannot result in the same protein sequence Neanderthals must have used a different variant of the genetic code.
B) Because there were differences in DNA sequence the hypothesis that Neanderthals were primitive beings that had not developed language is supported.
C) Because the FOXP2 protein sequences were identical, human and Neanderthal vocalizations may have been more similar than previously thought.
D) Because mice containing the "humanized" FOXP2 gene vocalized differently, mice and humans likely diverged more recently than previously thought.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Because the FOXP2 protein sequences were identical between Neanderthals and modern humans, it suggests that the function of this protein, related to the development of vocalizations, was conserved across these species. This could imply that Neanderthals had a capacity for vocal communication similar to that of modern humans, challenging assumptions about differences in language or communication abilities based solely on DNA sequence variations.

Studies in Knockout Mice Have Demonstrated an Important Role of the FOXP2