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Genetic Mutations Allowed Humans To Be Artistic

Makarand writes "Most anthropologists believe that the transformations which allowed humans to think and behave in a recognisably modern fashion happened gradually and were a result of demographic and cultural changes. However, according to an expert on human origins at Stanford University these transformations have a biological explanation and were not gradual. According to his theory 50,000 years ago genetic mutations resulted in a creativity gene that led to the development of the modern mind and started a cultural revolution by triggering biological changes in the brain and vastly improving the human ability to communicate. Evidence in support of such a theory has been found in the form of FOXP2, a gene proven to affect the ability of learning and processing language and which in its mutated form can result in speech and language impediments. Also, the human FOXP2 differs only slightly from similar genes in chimpanzees, mice and other animals."

29 of 414 comments (clear)

  1. Talking Mice by Karem+Lore · · Score: 0, Funny
    Hey, now with gene therapy we can get those three talking blind mice from "Babe."

    Karem

    --
    When all is said and done, nothing changes...
  2. obviously by eclectro · · Score: 1, Funny


    The trolls on slashdot are missing the FOXP2 gene. Maybe they will be able to get treatment now.

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  3. Creationism v Evolutionism -- Some Observations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    In an attempt to inject a little bit of humour into the whole Evolution v Creation "debate" (which seems to generate more heat than light!!!!), I offer the following.

    Two men in a bar are watching an evolutionist and a creationist battle it out on a talk show. One turns to the other and asks, "What do you think about this whole Creation/Evolution debate?"
    "Well, I think they both have a point.", the other says.
    "How so?"
    "I think some of us were created in the image of a Divine, Supreme Being to rule and have dominion over the whole earth, and to worship Him and spend eternity with Him in Heaven. And some of us are descended from primeval ooze via monkeys."
    "That's stupid!"
    "You're just jealous!" Hey, if the cap fits!......

    Some other observations:

    Don't wrestle with a pig. You'll both get dirty, and the pig likes it!

    It is better to be silent and thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt!

    Don't argue with a fool. People listening may not be able to tell the difference!

    God brings down the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

    Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

  4. Hmm... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    No wonder my army of monkeys haven't been writing anything worthwhile

    http://www.detroitluv.com

  5. Funniest talk.origins joke evar!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    A guy goes to a zoo and sees a gorilla with two books. The gorilla looks confused. One of the books is the Bible, the other Darwin. The guy asks the gorilla why he looks confused. The gorilla says "I can't figure out if I'm my brother's keeper or my keeper's brother!"

  6. Breaking news! by borgdows · · Score: 4, Funny

    RIAA is trying to patent the 'artistic gene' !

    1. Re:Breaking news! by mericet · · Score: 3, Funny

      I hardly think RIAA is even remotly interested in anything artistic. Maybe they would do it to kill off all private labels though.

    2. Re:Breaking news! by gmuslera · · Score: 1, Funny

      As they did with perl, with Artistic Licence, I bet

  7. it's language you moron by the_pooh_experience · · Score: 3, Funny
    best quote of the article:

    A study last year indicated that FOXP2 evolved "some time between last Tuesday and 200,000 years ago"

    no... really.

  8. In related news... by TrixX · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...a black monolith of 1x4x9 dimensions has been found in Africa.

  9. Creative mutants? by Garg · · Score: 3, Funny

    The newest X-Man... Kreativ!

    With the power to think outside the box!

    Garg

    --
    Garg
    Alumnus, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
    1. Re:Creative mutants? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Kreativ? Am I the only one who thinks that sounds like a KDE program?

  10. Psychedelic Logos by mikeophile · · Score: 2, Funny
    Terrence McKenna and others have postulated that the consumption of psychedelic mushrooms during the period around 50,000 years catalyzed the great leap from being near animal to accquiring language, technology and culture that we associate with humanity today.

    It would be very interesting to determine if the mutated FOXP2 gene and/or others involved in learning have an effect on the way a human or chimpanzee utilizes psyllocybin.

    It may very well be that the mutation was a natural selection among the hominids who consumed the psyllocybin-containing mushrooms.

    1. Re:Psychedelic Logos by mike3411 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yep, I pretty much agree, polus the idea that a non-mutagenic chemical would alter someone (And their descendents) genetic code is absurd.
      Now, radioactive mushrooms.....
      Will create a 50-ft tall super human! (if 50's era sci-fi flicks have taught me anything)

      --
      Mod me down, and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine!
    2. Re:Psychedelic Logos by LittleBigLui · · Score: 1, Funny

      [...] the consumption of which is evolutionarily invisible. Why should magic mushrooms be so special?

      because they're, like, magic, dude.

      --
      Free as in mason.
    3. Re: Psychedelic Logos by Black+Parrot · · Score: 2, Funny


      > I didn't go to grad school, but I did get a bachelors degree in Anthropology - and I like to think that I am pretty well read in the field. I can guarantee that there is absolutely no archaeological evidence linking proto-humans, or physically modern humans, to any sort of psychedelic chemical that facilitated brain development.

      Surely you're not saying you got a degree in the Liberal Arts without the help of a few magic mushrooms along the way? Whatever has this world come to! Next we'll be hearing that Drama students can be straight and Art majors wear clothes at parties.

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  11. Patent it! by The_Mutato · · Score: 3, Funny

    You can patent the gene and sue everybody on earth for copying it! Except for all the pop bands out there, that is...

    1. Re:Patent it! by lucretio · · Score: 1, Funny

      The pop bands don't have it.

  12. A little wisdom from Tom Holt by splerdu · · Score: 2, Funny

    The meek shall inherit the Earth.
    Eventually. When everyone else has quite finished with it and the meek have stopped saying "No, please, after you." Until then, the cocky little bastards shall inherit the Earth;

  13. Scientists Discover Troll gene by TheLoneCabbage · · Score: 2, Funny


    It is thought to have originated in humans over 25 years ago, and can be plainly seen in the explosion of Troll posts, on primitive BBS's across North America.

    The gene, FW324D342, is not found in other primates, but is often found in worms, ferrets, and aboriginal tree slugs.

    Scientists are hoping to develop a test to isolate individuals suffering with this gene and beat the ever living fsck out of them.

    Symptoms include:

    Routinely spouting on world politics when it realy has nothing to do with the thread.

    Saying things like "First Post"

    Writing assinine playoffs of the parrent topic.

    Saying things like "Linux/Windows Sucks!"

    Or "Poor me, I'm a descriminated Windows user who just blew 10 grand on an MCSE cert"

    Have patience and faith, scientists are working hard to wipe out this world wide web plauge

  14. FOXP2 GM mouse ? by liberteus1 · · Score: 1, Funny

    So... after the "long lasting mouse", are we gonna see the "artistic/speaking mouse" ?

    "Planet of the Apes" is tomorrow...

  15. I'm Sacrificing +2 Karma To Say This by Bowie+J.+Poag · · Score: 2, Funny



    This article is fucking stupid. Completely fucking stupid.

    Genetic "mutation" is responsible for EVERYTHING, people.. Bicycles, warheads, cheese in a can, dry wall, chess, television, and a fine selection of ladies' footwear. Saying genetic mutation is responsible for humans being artistic is like saying "NEWS FLASH : GENETIC MUTATION ALLOWS COW TO EAT AND POO"

    Genetic mutation is also responsible for making the moron(s) who thought this post was an earth-shattering scientific revelation packed with keen insight into the structure of life.

    Jesus fuckin fouth & inches Christ, at least we know Slashdot editors arent chosen on the basis of IQ..

    --
    Bowie J. Poag

  16. Fitted? by two_ply · · Score: 3, Funny
    From the article: Biological explanations had normally been rejected in the past, but actually fitted much better with the known facts. "I think there was a biological change -- a genetic mutation of some kind that promoted the fully modern ability to create and innovate."

    Methinks that a dictionary could have fitted much gooder in that hands of the editor who readed the story...

    And in a story about a language gene... i.r.o.n.y.

  17. FOXP2 = Secret of Nimh Gene by Corpus_Callosum · · Score: 1, Funny

    And you all just thought it was a cute story!

    Those of you with land and lawn-mowers near biotech laboratories, please be extra-cautious from this point forward.

    --
    The reason that it can be true that 1+1 > 2 is that very peculiar nonzero value of the + operator
  18. Cats must have it too then. by tjwhaynes · · Score: 4, Funny

    Cats are pretty creative. Not only can they persuade you to part with a significant portion of the food on your plate, they insinuate themselves to the point of displacing you from your favourite chair. And then, just to rub salt in the wounds a little more, they also paint and dance.

    Cheers,

    Toby Haynes

    P.S. I have no connection to these books/websites but I did fall off my chair laughing the first time I saw the website :-)

    --
    Anything I post is strictly my own thoughts and doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the opinions of IBM.
  19. Re:Um... by BlueGecko · · Score: 3, Funny
    It's not like a bunch of neanderthals were sitting around a fire and then Bob Dylan popped out.
    So you have an alternate explanation of how he got that way? :)
  20. Bullshit! by vogon+jeltz · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Also, the human FOXP2 differs only slightly from similar genes in chimpanzees, mice and other animals."

    We all know that the earth is actually run by mice!

  21. FOXP2 gene by fudgefactor7 · · Score: 2, Funny

    From the post: "Also, the human FOXP2 differs only slightly from similar genes in chimpanzees, mice and other animals."

    That's why my million monkeys with typewriters haven't churned out any Shakespearian prose yet...Looks like I'll be doing a little gene therapy first, then look out literary world, here I come! ;)

  22. Funniest two sentences from the article.. by M.C.+Hampster · · Score: 2, Funny

    Human populations that previously had produced similar functional tools suddenly began to make artefacts that looked very different according to local style, and to create symbolic objects with no practical function at all. That idiosyncratic creativity is generally accepted as the defining quality of the modern human mind.

    You are human because you create crap.

    --
    Forget the whales - save the babies.