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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."

4 of 414 comments (clear)

  1. 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!"

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

    RIAA is trying to patent the 'artistic gene' !

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

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

  4. 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.