Differential DNA methylation of vocal and facial anatomy genes in modern humans

NFIX regulation in AMH, Neanderthals,
and Marshall-Smith/Malan Syndromes

In the past decade, researchers have published significantly more studies on human evolutionary epigenetic studies. These studies often focus on DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism. One method for determining regulatory elements affected by methylation is reconstructing and creating experimental methylation maps. David Gokhman et al. recently published a study on the effects of DNA methylation of vocal and facial anatomy genes in modern humans. His sample was comprised of ancient and modern humans as well as six chimpanzees. These samples produced 69 skeletal DNA methylation maps and identified human-specific methylation states in 588 genes. Most of these changes are involved in vocal and facial anatomy. Specifically, Gokhman et al. found extensive hypermethylation in SOX9, ACAN, COL2A1, NFIX, and XYLT1. They suggest that these methylation changes shaped the modern human vocal track and face.

Joshua Porter

Potluck – 03/31/2020

Link to paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-15020-6.pdf