FOXP2 is a gene that plays a critical role in setting up the brain circuitry enabling speech-language. Preliminary data suggested that FOXP2 could be regulated according to its parental origin (genomic imprinting), with only the paternal copy expressed. Imprinting is thought to involve antagonism between the parental genomes and has been put forward as a theory to explain the evolution of speech and language. We tested the hypothesis that FOXP2 is imprinted and found that this gene is expressed equally from both parental copies. We therefore conclude that parental conflict is an unlikely evolutionary mechanism for speech and language function. (By Dr. Philip Stanier, http://jmg.bmj.com/content/early/2012/10/01/jmedgenet-2012-101242 )
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