Songbird teaches us how our own brain is wired
An international team of researchers has sequenced the genome of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata). It is only the second time ever that scientists have been able to sequence a bird's genome (the first was that of the chicken) and the first time a songbird's genome has been sequenced. The zebra finch genome now provides us with a unique opportunity to understand our own genetics as well as the mechanics at work behind some special traits inherent in birds. Findings of the study are published in Nature. The study, which involved 20 institutes in Germany, Israel, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the US, has revealed that a significant portion of the Australian bird's DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is dedicated to singing and hearing melodies. The songs may only last a short while, but the process involved is deeply complex, with 800 genes engaged in the act of singing. What is more, like humans (and only a few other animals, such as whales and elephants), the young male zebra finch learns to communicate from its parents (and not instinct), specifically the father, since singing is almost always a male activity. Decoding the songbird's genome is of 'unique relevance to human neuroscience', write the authors. Since many of its genes are conserved in humans, the zebra finch genome is an important way of understanding our own vocal learning processes. This could ultimately lead to a greater understanding of the genetic and molecular origins of speech disorders, such as those linked to autism, stroke, stuttering and Parkinson's disease. 'Now we can look deep into the genome, not just at the genes involved in vocal learning, but at the complex ways in which they are regulated,' says Dr Richard K. Wilson of the University of Washington in the US. 'There are layers and layers of complexity that we're just beginning to see. This information provides clues to how vocal learning occurs at the most basic molecular level in birds and in people.' Beyond learning, the new information could shed light on human immunity and even fertility. The team from the University of Sheffield (one of seven institutes from the UK involved in the research) discovered that there is a genetic component to the zebra finch's sperm length and speed. The university's Dr Jon Slate comments: 'Discovering the genes that explain these differences in fertility is now possible, and it is likely that the same genes will have similar effects in humans as well.' The zebra finch genome has also resulted in a greater understanding of the biology and evolution of birds, and has allowed for comparisons between bird species. Professor Darren Griffin from the University of Kent in the UK said that one of the major findings was the genetic basis of a lot of the variation between chickens and zebra finches. 'Clearly the two birds are very different but the evidence we had before suggested their genomes were actually very similar. In fact, we now have a clear idea of why this is not the case.'
Countries
Germany, Spain, Israel, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States