Recent Observations on Deep-Rooted Polymorphism Patterns of Language/Cognition Genes

Research into how the evolution of language-related and cognition-related genes shaped the fundamental attributes distinguishing humans from other animals remains in its nascent stages. In this study, we analyzed 223 single nucleotide variations (SNVs) in language-associated genes and 240 SNVs in cognition-associated genes across whole-genome sequences from 471 samples, encompassing: Archaic humans (including Neanderthals and Denisovans), Modern humans, and Other vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, rodents, mammals).Computations using four genetic distance metrics and six clustering methods revealed that the most ancient Language/Cognition Gene Polymorphism Patterns (LCGPP) predominantly persist in fish, with minor representation in amphibians/reptiles and Laurasiatherian mammals. Within our sample scope: The archaic human sample closest to these ancient LCGPPs is sd1 (Africa, Sudan, 4,000 year BP); Subsequent proximity is observed in nd1n (Europe, Okladnikov Cave, Russia, 44,000 year BP) and dg2 (Asia, Devils Gate, Russia, 7,700 year BP); Both sd1 and nd1n show the strongest genetic affinity to marine fish samples. This implies that foundational frameworks for language and cognition genes may have been established as early as the piscine evolutionary stage.