Convergent transcriptional specializations in the brains of humans and song-learning birds.
Published
Journal Article
Song-learning birds and humans share independently evolved similarities in brain pathways for vocal learning that are essential for song and speech and are not found in most other species. Comparisons of brain transcriptomes of song-learning birds and humans relative to vocal nonlearners identified convergent gene expression specializations in specific song and speech brain regions of avian vocal learners and humans. The strongest shared profiles relate bird motor and striatal song-learning nuclei, respectively, with human laryngeal motor cortex and parts of the striatum that control speech production and learning. Most of the associated genes function in motor control and brain connectivity. Thus, convergent behavior and neural connectivity for a complex trait are associated with convergent specialized expression of multiple genes.
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Duke Authors
- Hartemink, Alexander J.
- Jarvis, Erich David
- Moseley III, Martin Arthur
- Soderblom, Erik James
- Thompson, J. Will
Cited Authors
- Pfenning, AR; Hara, E; Whitney, O; Rivas, MV; Wang, R; Roulhac, PL; Howard, JT; Wirthlin, M; Lovell, PV; Ganapathy, G; Mouncastle, J; Moseley, MA; Thompson, JW; Soderblom, EJ; Iriki, A; Kato, M; Gilbert, MTP; Zhang, G; Bakken, T; Bongaarts, A; Bernard, A; Lein, E; Mello, CV; Hartemink, AJ; Jarvis, ED
Published Date
- December 12, 2014
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 346 / 6215
Start / End Page
- 1256846 -
PubMed ID
- 25504733
Pubmed Central ID
- 25504733
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1095-9203
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1126/science.1256846
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States