As soon as we get talking chimps we're going to find out they think throwing poo is hysterically , insanely funny. And a whole new generation of Will Ferrel moves will be born. #genomics
@bookwench: i aso move that we make our cats talk, so they can all be more of an asshole than they already are. we should probably teach them to chain smoke too.... #genomics
@MargaretMoony: and carry switchblades! ...and because they are cats, they would also do these things while launching into numbers from West Side Story. #genomics
@bookwench: all that science wasted on a cat, who/that would merely say "ME!ME!" over and over, forever
ps I just realised you didnt in fact mention cats, other posters did...oh well, there goes the proof that sentience is in fact wasted on me, when faced with a keyboard and a simple task ...bring on the talking chimps, I'm all done here...
@Cal Hawks: Well, you know, some people already speak pig-latin. And, as we all know, pigs are favorites for scientific research because we're pretty much alike where it matters. #genomics
I wonder how this could be applied to biocomputing, or organic machines... It seems if it has the ability to operate as a binary switch then we could utilise that in building organic tech.
"The reason why humans speak and chimps don't is dependent on one gene, called FOXP2."
Sorry, Annalee, but this isn't really the case.
FOXP2 is considered to be very critical, but speech is not regulated by only FOXP2 in humans. It is just one gene that has been identified for speech amongst many.
Simply giving chimpanzee our FOXP2 gene would not result in talking chimps (although it would be neat if that were true). Neanderthal had the same FOXP2 as us but it doesn't appear that they had the capacity for language or creativity. There are also anatomical differences that would appear to make speech difficult for chimpanzee and perhaps Neanderthal as well.
Then again, you can never say never. Ten years ago the idea of sequencing Neanderthal DNA would have been considered pretty far fetched.
@twophrasebark: Well, if the anatomical problems were the only barrier, they could make do with a combination of grunting and crude sign-language. Since they can already do some very simple communication in this way, wouldn't this potentially increase it. Not all the way to human speech (yet) but an interesting experiment nonetheless. #genomics
@Mathmos: So true, I always try to make sure I say the USA or the United States, just to be clear. It irks me when I see people use the word to mean simply there own country.
America is a big place, I wouldn't want people to think I was refering to the whole two continents of the Americas when i talk about the rotting of an empire. :P #genomics
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(silence)
"Think you're tough, eh?"
(silence)
"Listen, we have ways to make you talk. If you don't confess, we'll tweak your FOXP2 gene, and then you'll talk."
"No, no, please, not gene-tweaking! I confess. I ate all the banana in the kitchen" #genomics
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ps I just realised you didnt in fact mention cats, other posters did...oh well, there goes the proof that sentience is in fact wasted on me, when faced with a keyboard and a simple task ...bring on the talking chimps, I'm all done here...
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the rest of the movie is spent with the main cats traying to get the yellow ball out of the donut track #genomics
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Not my cat, he'd be a pretentious asshole. #genomics
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Weren't there stories that a Planet of the Apes prequel was being worked on that was kind of like this story?
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Still just a dream. #genomics
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We'd say, "Of courserous, can't you?
You made a Doctor Doolittle reference (the real one)!
You're my favorite person of the moment. #genomics
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Or am I dreaming? #genomics
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Sorry, Annalee, but this isn't really the case.
FOXP2 is considered to be very critical, but speech is not regulated by only FOXP2 in humans. It is just one gene that has been identified for speech amongst many.
Simply giving chimpanzee our FOXP2 gene would not result in talking chimps (although it would be neat if that were true). Neanderthal had the same FOXP2 as us but it doesn't appear that they had the capacity for language or creativity. There are also anatomical differences that would appear to make speech difficult for chimpanzee and perhaps Neanderthal as well.
Then again, you can never say never. Ten years ago the idea of sequencing Neanderthal DNA would have been considered pretty far fetched.
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But you never know. #genomics
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Speech is vocalized communication.
There are other ways to communicate. Gestures, written language, art, et cetera.
Neanderthals had the same FOXP2 as us and there is no evidence of any art or written language. They may have made music though. #genomics
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@Byronotron: #genomics
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America is a big place, I wouldn't want people to think I was refering to the whole two continents of the Americas when i talk about the rotting of an empire. :P #genomics
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