Researchers are beginning to uncover the neurogenetic pathways that underlie our
unparalleled capacity for spoken language. Initial clues come from identification of genetic …

Highlights•Rare variants disrupting speech, in genes like FOXP2, give insight into
neurobiology of key human traits.•Neural functions of FOXP2 are being studied in human …

Language is a defining characteristic of the human species, but its foundations remain
mysterious. Heritable disorders offer a gateway into biological underpinnings, as illustrated …

▪ Abstract A significant number of individuals have unexplained difficulties with acquiring
normal speech and language, despite adequate intelligence and environmental stimulation …

Developmental speech and language disorders cover a wide range of childhood conditions
with overlapping but heterogeneous phenotypes and underlying etiologies. This …

Investigation of the biological basis of human speech and language is being transformed by
developments in molecular technologies, including high-throughput genotyping and next …

Genetic investigations of people with impaired development of spoken language provide
windows into key aspects of human biology. Over 15 years after FOXP2 was identified, most …

Specific language impairment (SLI) is defined as an unexpected and persistent impairment
in language ability despite adequate opportunity and intelligence and in the absence of any …

Next-generation sequencing is set to transform the discovery of genes underlying
neurodevelopmental disorders, and so offer important insights into the biological bases of …

The human capacity to acquire sophisticated language is unmatched in the animal kingdom.
Despite the discontinuity in communicative abilities between humans and other primates …