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The Human Mutation

eldavojohn writes "Scientists in China have announced finding the gene that makes us human. The article explains that prior work has shown that humans, as compared with the great apes from which we diverged over 5 million years ago, have a longer form of a protein (type II neuropsin) located in the pre-frontal cortex of the brain. From the article: 'Gene sequencing revealed a mutation specific to humans that triggers a change in the splicing pattern of the neuropsin gene, creating a new splicing site and a longer protein. Introducing this mutation into chimpanzee DNA resulted in the creation of type II neuropsin. "Hence, the human-specific mutation is not only necessary but also sufficient in creating the novel splice form," the authors state.' The team is urging further analysis of the extra 45 amino acids in type II neuropsin since they believe that chain may cause protein structural and functional changes. The research didn't link anything with this protein, simply identifying it as a very distinct difference between us and our closest cousins."

29 of 339 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory Planet of the Apes by PixieDust · · Score: 3, Funny
    Yes, let's introduce this gene into a bunch of apes.

    I for one, welcome our new english speaking tyrannical ape-like overlords.

    1. Re:Obligatory Planet of the Apes by Mr.+Bad+Example · · Score: 5, Funny

      > I for one, welcome our new english speaking tyrannical ape-like overlords.

      You're about six years too late for that.

    2. Re:Obligatory Planet of the Apes by rde · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes, let's introduce this gene into a bunch of apes.
      I for one, welcome our new english speaking tyrannical ape-like overlords.

      And I for one welcome the thoughts on the creationists and other fundies on this one. It's going to be fun.
      "We can't do this!"
      "Why not?"
      "We'll be creating humans! Only God can do that!"
      "So you're saying that humans and apes evolved from a common ancestor?"
      "Err..."

    3. Re:Obligatory Planet of the Apes by rubycodez · · Score: 5, Funny

      that's a very disrespectful comparison to the chief and vice executives, you should be ashamed. Apes are noble creatures.

    4. Re:Obligatory Planet of the Apes by j00r0m4nc3r · · Score: 3, Funny

      I for one, welcome our new english speaking tyrannical ape-like overlords.

      You mean the RIAA?

    5. Re:Obligatory Planet of the Apes by MightyYar · · Score: 4, Funny

      Politicians have been around a lot longer than that.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    6. Re:Obligatory Planet of the Apes by Glytch · · Score: 5, Funny

      >> I for one, welcome our new english speaking tyrannical ape-like overlords.

      > You're about six years too late for that.

      The original poster said "english speaking", clearly this can't be a reference to the president.

    7. Re:Obligatory Planet of the Apes by hey! · · Score: 3, Funny

      The Republican Party did the best they could under the circumstances.

      They did not have an infinite number to choose from, after all.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    8. Re:Obligatory Planet of the Apes by kalirion · · Score: 3, Funny

      What if we can reproduce with them? (shudder) Cause if we can, someone will.

      People, people, please remember that when you have sex with an ape, you're also having sex with every ape that ape has ever had sex with!

      -paraphrased from Night Stand

  2. Uh oh, by LurkerXXX · · Score: 5, Funny

    Putting human brain genes in chimps, this is how it all starts. A thousand years from now some astronaut returning to earth is going to be saying "Get your hands off me, you damn dirty ape!"

  3. Good job by LBArrettAnderson · · Score: 4, Funny

    The article explains that prior work has shown that humans, as compared with the great apes from which we diverged over 5 million years ago, have ...

    Now that the prior work is already covered, the AACS can't copyright us.

  4. Mix this protein into a food chain and... by Ruvim · · Score: 4, Funny

    You have 6bln more monkeys running around the Earth.

    1. Re:Mix this protein into a food chain and... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      No, not 6bln. monkeys. They will use this protein to create the ultimate monkey... with 6 asses.

  5. genetic warfare by amigabill · · Score: 3, Funny

    Great. Now someone will come up with a retrovirus or something that makes us all as dumb as Bush.

  6. longer form of a protein? by ScentCone · · Score: 2, Funny

    longer form of a protein

    As long as... a spaghetti noodle, perhaps?

    --
    Don't disappoint your bird dog. Go to the range.
  7. The best part about this protein.... by chiph · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...is that your pets have been already eating it for two months!

    Chip H.

  8. interesting by FudRucker · · Score: 1, Funny

    well I'll be a monkey's uncle...

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
  9. Maybe that's what killed my dog... by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 2, Funny
    stupid Chinese proteins.

    I hope Karma is real and he comes back as a piss-off research ape in a Chinese lab and rips some arms off of someone responsible.

    --
    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
  10. In other words by eclectro · · Score: 3, Funny

    We're all mutants? That can't be good...

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  11. New adverts: by priestx · · Score: 2, Funny

    Make your protein chain longer! For a limited time only!

    --
    "To be is to do." -Socrates
    "To do is to be." -Jean-Paul Sartre
    "Do-be-do-be-do." -Frank Sinatra
  12. Actually, I expect something else... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    They'll just find that it contains the 09 F9 number when the gene sequence has every two base pairs encoded as one hex digit. Then they'll sue everyone who has sex in the USA for "unauthorized trafficking" per the DMCA.

    The only good side of this is that, for once, Slashdotters will NOT be affected :)

  13. Damn. by Midnight+Voyager · · Score: 2, Funny

    I open this topic, thinking I'm gonna get to hear that someone's finally able to shoot eyebeams or read minds and it's just some silly science thing. I demand powers!

  14. Re:Typical Evolutionism B.S. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    So heaven is full of people saying, "go to hell" . . .

  15. Re:Ummm.... by Walt+Dismal · · Score: 2, Funny

    We are one step closer to ManBearPig! Yee-haw!

  16. A new form of that old cliche by sabernet · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now, with the introduction of said protein, putting a hundred monkeys into a room with typewriters will indeed produce a work the likes of William Shakespear. Only now the chimps will each sue each other for infringing on each other's intellectual property.

  17. Re:In Soviet Russia by ian-live · · Score: 2, Funny

    OH you did make me laugh. Thank you!

    --
    Born, to clone
  18. Geocentric? by ribman · · Score: 2, Funny

    Geocentric? ... Rubbish! Reality is Ideocentric isn't it? Moi!
    Then there's the Turtles of course ... :)

  19. Now we know by Progman3K · · Score: 2, Funny

    So THAT'S what the monolith did!

    --
    I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
  20. Re:you maniacs! by Mgns · · Score: 3, Funny

    (Score:2, Insightful)

    That's it Mr. Moderator

    Report to base camp. CmdTaco will read you the mod guide while the rest of us injects you with some neurospin