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The discovery of FOXP2 in humans
人體中FOXP2的發現
marked a significant step forward for linguistic science.
是語言科學發展的一個重要里程碑
One family had unlocked some of the key secrets of speech in all of us.
一個家族揭示了人類語言的某些關鍵秘密
This kind of a connection between a single gene
找出像說話和語言這種認知能力
and a cognitive capacity, like speech and language,
與單個基因之間的關系
is quite remarkable to be able to demonstrate.
是相當引人矚目的
It was later discovered that all vertebrates have a version of this gene
隨后我們發現所有脊椎動物都有這種基因
but just two tiny changes in the human form
只是與人類的基因的兩處小差別
has meant the difference between making noises and producing speech.
就使得叫嚷和講話得以區分
It looks like this period where these changes occurred
看起來 這些小差別產生的時刻
may have coincided with the time that modern humans had come about.
可能就是現代人類文明出現的那一刻
The effect of these small changes in our genes was massive
基因中的小變化帶來的影響是巨大的
because, for the first time,
因為 這是有史以來第一次
we were able to manipulate our mouths to form complex sounds.
我們能夠控制自己的嘴巴發出復雜的聲音
