Contributions of common genetic variants to specific languages and to when a language is learned
Abstract Research over the past two decades has identified a group of common genetic variants explaining a portion of variance in native language ability. The present study investigates whether the same group of genetic variants are associated with different languages and languages learned at differ...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04163-1 |
| _version_ | 1798026526597316608 |
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| author | Patrick C. M. Wong Xin Kang Hon-Cheong So Kwong Wai Choy |
| author_facet | Patrick C. M. Wong Xin Kang Hon-Cheong So Kwong Wai Choy |
| author_sort | Patrick C. M. Wong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Research over the past two decades has identified a group of common genetic variants explaining a portion of variance in native language ability. The present study investigates whether the same group of genetic variants are associated with different languages and languages learned at different times in life. We recruited 940 young adults who spoke from childhood Chinese and English as their first (native) (L1) and second (L2) language, respectively, who were learners of a new, third (L3) language. For the variants examined, we found a general decrease of contribution of genes to language functions from native to foreign (L2 and L3) languages, with variance in foreign languages explained largely by non-genetic factors such as musical training and motivation. Furthermore, genetic variants that were found to contribute to traits specific to Chinese and English respectively exerted the strongest effects on L1 and L2. These results seem to speak against the hypothesis of a language- and time-universal genetic core of linguistic functions. Instead, they provide preliminary evidence that genetic contribution to language may depend at least partly on the intricate language-specific features. Future research including a larger sample size, more languages and more genetic variants is required to further explore these hypotheses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T18:37:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b6c86f5daef4412ba67c563b4cee89f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T18:37:54Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-b6c86f5daef4412ba67c563b4cee89f12022-12-22T04:09:13ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-01-0112111310.1038/s41598-021-04163-1Contributions of common genetic variants to specific languages and to when a language is learnedPatrick C. M. Wong0Xin Kang1Hon-Cheong So2Kwong Wai Choy3Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong KongDepartment of Linguistics and Modern Languages, The Chinese University of Hong KongBrain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong KongDepartment of Obsterics and Gynecology, The Chinese University of Hong KongAbstract Research over the past two decades has identified a group of common genetic variants explaining a portion of variance in native language ability. The present study investigates whether the same group of genetic variants are associated with different languages and languages learned at different times in life. We recruited 940 young adults who spoke from childhood Chinese and English as their first (native) (L1) and second (L2) language, respectively, who were learners of a new, third (L3) language. For the variants examined, we found a general decrease of contribution of genes to language functions from native to foreign (L2 and L3) languages, with variance in foreign languages explained largely by non-genetic factors such as musical training and motivation. Furthermore, genetic variants that were found to contribute to traits specific to Chinese and English respectively exerted the strongest effects on L1 and L2. These results seem to speak against the hypothesis of a language- and time-universal genetic core of linguistic functions. Instead, they provide preliminary evidence that genetic contribution to language may depend at least partly on the intricate language-specific features. Future research including a larger sample size, more languages and more genetic variants is required to further explore these hypotheses.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04163-1 |
| spellingShingle | Patrick C. M. Wong Xin Kang Hon-Cheong So Kwong Wai Choy Contributions of common genetic variants to specific languages and to when a language is learned Scientific Reports |
| title | Contributions of common genetic variants to specific languages and to when a language is learned |
| title_full | Contributions of common genetic variants to specific languages and to when a language is learned |
| title_fullStr | Contributions of common genetic variants to specific languages and to when a language is learned |
| title_full_unstemmed | Contributions of common genetic variants to specific languages and to when a language is learned |
| title_short | Contributions of common genetic variants to specific languages and to when a language is learned |
| title_sort | contributions of common genetic variants to specific languages and to when a language is learned |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04163-1 |
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