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) There was a problem with the experiment because different DNA sequences cannot result in the same protein sequence.
B) The differences in DNA sequence support the hypothesis that Neanderthals were primitive beings that could only grunt.
C) Human and Neanderthal vocalizations may have been more similar than previously thought.
D) The experiments in mice demonstrating the function of the FOXP2 gene are not relevant to humans and Neanderthals because they are not primates.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the FOXP2 protein sequence is identical in Neanderthals and modern humans despite differences in the DNA sequence suggests that the gene has remained functionally important and may have played a role in vocalizations in both species. This supports the hypothesis that human and Neanderthal vocalizations may have been more similar than previously thought. A is incorrect because different DNA sequences can result in the same protein sequence due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. B is incorrect because there is no evidence to support the idea that Neanderthals were primitive beings that could only grunt. D is incorrect because the experiments in mice are relevant to understanding the function of FOXP2 in other species, including humans and Neanderthals.

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