A Comparative Biological Study of Language

doi:10.12300/j.issn.1674-5817.2021.133

Abstract

Abstract:

Comparative analysis is a fundamental tool in biology. Comparative biolinguistics emphasizes that the foundations of cognition are shared between a wide range of species and provides insights into the nature of human speech, language, and social interaction by comparing the communication mechanisms of humans, animals, and hominins. This paper reviewed comparative biolinguistic studies in the modern population (between modern humans and hominins, and in model animals of vocal learning) to reveal the significance of comparative biology in the study of developmental language disorders and language evolution at the levels of genome, neurogenetics, and ethology.

Key words: Comparative biolinguistics, Vocal learning, Developmental communication disorder, Language evolution, Animal models

CLC Number:

Q594

Hui LI. A Comparative Biological Study of Language[J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2022, 42(3): 255-261. DOI: 10.12300/j.issn.1674-5817.2021.133.

Figures/Tables 1

References 22

1	CO M, ANDERSON A G, KONOPKA G. FOXP transcription factors in vertebrate brain development, function, and disorders[J]. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Dev Biol, 2020, 9(5): e375. DOI:10.1002/wdev.375 .
2	LIEBERMAN P. The antiquity and evolution of the neural bases of rhythmic activity[J]. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2019, 1453(1):114-124. DOI:10.1111/nyas.14199 .
3	NEWBURY D F, WINCHESTER L, ADDIS L, et al. CMIP and ATP2C2 modulate phonological short-term memory in language impairment[J]. Am J Hum Genet, 2009, 85(2):264-272. DOI:10.1016/j.ajhg.2009.07.004 .
4	POOT M. Connecting the CNTNAP2 networks with neuro-developmental disorders[J]. Mol Syndromol, 2015, 6(1):7-22. DOI:10.1159/000371594 .
5	SANFILIPPO J, NESS M, PETSCHER Y, et al. Reintroducing dyslexia: early identification and implications for pediatric practice[J]. Pediatrics, 2020, 146(1): e20193046. DOI:10.1542/peds.2019-3046 .
6	GRAHAM S A, DERIZIOTIS P, FISHER S E. Insights into the genetic foundations of human communication[J]. Neuro-psychol Rev, 2015, 25(1):3-26. DOI:10.1007/s11065-014-9277-2 .
7	CHRISTOPHER M E, HULSLANDER J, BYRNE B, et al. Modeling the etiology of individual differences in early reading development: evidence for strong genetic influences[J]. Sci Stud Read, 2013, 17(5):350-368. DOI:10.1080/10888438. 2012.729119 .
8	FRENCH C A, FISHER S E. What can mice tell us about Foxp2 function?[J]. Curr Opin Neurobiol, 2014, 28:72-79. DOI:10.1016/j.conb.2014.07.003 .
9	FRIEDMAN L, STERLING A. A review of language, executive function, and intervention in autism spectrum disorder[J]. Semin Speech Lang, 2019, 40(4):291-304. DOI:10.1055/s-0039-1692964 .
10	KONOPKA G, ROBERTS T F. Animal models of speech and vocal communication deficits associated with psychiatric disorders[J]. Biol Psychiatry, 2016, 79(1):53-61. DOI:10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.07.001 .
11	ORNOY A, WEINSTEIN-FUDIM L, ERGAZ Z. Prevention or amelioration of autism-like symptoms in animal models: will it bring us closer to treating human ASD?[J]. Int J Mol Sci, 2019, 20(5):1074. DOI:10.3390/ijms20051074 .
12	KONG Y, ZHOU W, SUN Z. Nuclear receptor corepressors in intellectual disability and autism[J]. Mol Psychiatry, 2020, 25(10):2220-2236. DOI:10.1038/s41380-020-0667-y .
13	CHADMAN K K, FERNANDES S, DILIBERTO E, et al. Do animal models hold value in Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) drug discovery?[J]. Expert Opin Drug Discov, 2019, 14(8):727-734. DOI:10.1080/17460441.2019.1621285 .
14	PINKER S, BLOOM P. Natural language and natural selection[J]. Behav Brain Sci, 1990, 13(4):707-727. DOI:10.1017/s0140525x00081061 .
15	CHOMSKY N. Some simple evo Devo theses: how true might they be for language?[M]//LARSON R K, DEPREZ V, YAMAKIDO H. eds. The Evolution of Human Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010 :45-62. DOI:10.1017/cbo9780511817755.003 .
16	DAN D D, LEVINSON S C. On the antiquity of language: the reinterpretation of Neandertal linguistic capacities and its consequences[J]. Front Psychol, 2013, 4:397. DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00397 .
17	MARTINS P T, BOECKX C. Vocal learning: Beyond the continuum[J]. PLoS Biol, 2020, 18(3): e3000672. DOI:10.1371/journal.pbio.3000672 .
18	O'ROURKE T, MARTINS P T, ASANO R, et al. Capturing the effects of domestication on vocal learning complexity[J]. Trends Cogn Sci, 2021, 25(6):462-474. DOI:10.1016/j.tics. 2021. 03.007 .
19	TYACK P L. A taxonomy for vocal learning[J]. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 2020, 375(1789):20180406. DOI:10.1098/rstb.2018.0406 .
20	MARTINS P T, BOECKX C. Vocal learning: Beyond the continuum[J]. PLoS Biol, 2020, 18(3):e3000672.
21	FISHER S E, VERNES S C. Genetics and the language sciences[J]. Annu Rev Linguist, 2015, 1(1):289-310. DOI:10.1146/annurev-linguist-030514-125024 .
22	POBLETE G F, GOSNELL S N, MEYER M, et al. Process genes list: an approach to link genetics and human brain imaging[J]. J Neurosci Methods, 2020, 339:108695. DOI:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108695 .

英文缩略词	英文全称	中文全称（备注）
WHO	World Health Organization	世界卫生组织
FDA	Food and Drug Administration	食品药品监督管理局（美国）
SPF	specific pathogen-free	无特定病原体
PCR	polymerase chain reaction	聚合酶链式反应
CT	computerized tomography	计算机体层摄影
ELISA	enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay	酶联免疫吸附测定
CCK-8	cell counting kit-8	细胞计数试剂盒-8
MTT	thiazolyl blue	噻唑蓝（细胞增殖活性检测试剂）
BCA	bicinchonininc acid	二辛可宁酸（蛋白浓度测定试剂）
PAGE	polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis	聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳
SDS	sodium dodecyl sulfate	十二烷基硫酸钠
DMSO	dimethyl sulfoxide	二甲基亚砜
EDTA	ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid	乙二胺四乙酸
SP	streptavidin-perosidase	链霉抗生物素蛋白-过氧化物酶
HE	hematoxylin and eosin	苏木精-伊红
DAB	3,3’-diaminobenzidine	二氨基联苯胺
ddH₂O	distillation-distillation H₂O	双蒸水
PBS	phosphate-buffered saline	磷酸盐缓冲溶液
DPBS	Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline	杜氏磷酸盐缓冲液
PBST	phosphate-buffered saline with Tween-20	含Tween-20的磷酸盐缓冲液
TBST	Tris-buffered saline with Tween-20	含Tween-20的Tris盐酸缓冲液
DEPC	diethyl pyrocarbonate	焦碳酸二乙酯
DAPI	4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole	4’,6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚
FITC	fluorescein insothiocyanate	异硫氰酸荧光素
PE	phycoerythrin	藻红蛋白
PVDF	polyvinylidene difluoride	聚偏二氟乙烯
RIPA	radio immunoprecipitation assay	放射免疫沉淀法
FBS	fetal bovine serum	胎牛血清
BSA	bovine serum albumin	牛血清白蛋白
PI	propidium iodide	碘化丙啶
Bcl-2	B-cell lymphoma-2	B淋巴细胞瘤-2基因
GAPDH	glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase	甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶（内参）
Ras	rat sarcoma gene	大鼠肉瘤基因
DNA	deoxyribonucleic acid	脱氧核糖核酸
RNA	ribonucleic acid	核糖核酸
cDNA	complementary DNA	互补（反向转录）DNA
siRNA	small interfering RNA	小干扰RNA
miRNA	microRNA	微RNA

英文缩略词	英文全称	中文全称（备注）
WHO	World Health Organization	世界卫生组织
FDA	Food and Drug Administration	食品药品监督管理局（美国）
SPF	specific pathogen-free	无特定病原体
PCR	polymerase chain reaction	聚合酶链式反应
CT	computerized tomography	计算机体层摄影
ELISA	enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay	酶联免疫吸附测定
CCK-8	cell counting kit-8	细胞计数试剂盒-8
MTT	thiazolyl blue	噻唑蓝（细胞增殖活性检测试剂）
BCA	bicinchonininc acid	二辛可宁酸（蛋白浓度测定试剂）
PAGE	polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis	聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳
SDS	sodium dodecyl sulfate	十二烷基硫酸钠
DMSO	dimethyl sulfoxide	二甲基亚砜
EDTA	ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid	乙二胺四乙酸
SP	streptavidin-perosidase	链霉抗生物素蛋白-过氧化物酶
HE	hematoxylin and eosin	苏木精-伊红
DAB	3,3’-diaminobenzidine	二氨基联苯胺
ddH₂O	distillation-distillation H₂O	双蒸水
PBS	phosphate-buffered saline	磷酸盐缓冲溶液
DPBS	Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline	杜氏磷酸盐缓冲液
PBST	phosphate-buffered saline with Tween-20	含Tween-20的磷酸盐缓冲液
TBST	Tris-buffered saline with Tween-20	含Tween-20的Tris盐酸缓冲液
DEPC	diethyl pyrocarbonate	焦碳酸二乙酯
DAPI	4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole	4’,6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚
FITC	fluorescein insothiocyanate	异硫氰酸荧光素
PE	phycoerythrin	藻红蛋白
PVDF	polyvinylidene difluoride	聚偏二氟乙烯
RIPA	radio immunoprecipitation assay	放射免疫沉淀法
FBS	fetal bovine serum	胎牛血清
BSA	bovine serum albumin	牛血清白蛋白
PI	propidium iodide	碘化丙啶
Bcl-2	B-cell lymphoma-2	B淋巴细胞瘤-2基因
GAPDH	glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase	甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶（内参）
Ras	rat sarcoma gene	大鼠肉瘤基因
DNA	deoxyribonucleic acid	脱氧核糖核酸
RNA	ribonucleic acid	核糖核酸
cDNA	complementary DNA	互补（反向转录）DNA
siRNA	small interfering RNA	小干扰RNA
miRNA	microRNA	微RNA

[1]	LIU Yayi, JIA Yunfeng, ZUO Yiming, ZHANG Junping, LÜ Shichao. Progress and Evaluation of Animal Model of Heart Qi-Yin Deficiency Syndrome [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2025, 45(4): 411-421.
[2]	PAN Yicong, JIANG Wenhong, HU Ming, QIN Xiao. Optimization of Surgical Procedure and Efficacy Evaluation of Aortic Calcification Model in Rats with Chronic Kidney Disease [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2025, 45(3): 279-289.
[3]	LIAN Hui, JIANG Yanling, LIU Jia, ZHANG Yuli, XIE Wei, XUE Xiaoou, LI Jian. Construction and Evaluation of a Rat Model of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2025, 45(2): 130-146.
[4]	YANG Jiahao, DING Chunlei, QIAN Fenghua, SUN Qi, JIANG Xusheng, CHEN Wen, SHEN Mengwen. Research Progress on Animal Models of Sepsis-Related Organ Injury [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2024, 44(6): 636-644.
[5]	HUANG Dongyan, WU Jianhui. Establishment Methods and Application Evaluation of Animal Models in Reproductive Toxicology Research [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2024, 44(5): 550-559.
[6]	ZHENG Yiqing, DENG Yasheng, FAN Yanping, LIANG Tianwei, HUANG Hui, LIU Yonghui, NI Zhaobing, LIN Jiang. Application Analysis of Animal Models for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Based on Data Mining [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2024, 44(4): 405-418.
[7]	WU Yue, LI Lu, ZHANG Yang, WANG Jue, FENG Tingting, LI Yitong, WANG Kai, KONG Qi. Integrative Analysis of Omics Data in Animal Models of Coronavirus Infection [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2024, 44(4): 357-373.
[8]	Committee of Experts on Medical Animal Experiments, Chinese Research Hospital Association. Guidelines for the Selection of Animal Models and Preclinical Drug Trials for Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage (2024 Edition) [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2024, 44(1): 3-30.
[9]	Shuwu XIE, Ruling SHEN, Jinxing LIN, Chun FAN. Progress in Establishment and Application of Laboratory Animal Models Related to Development of Male Infertility Drugs [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2023, 43(5): 504-511.
[10]	Rui ZHANG, Meiyu LÜ, Jianjun ZHANG, Jinlian LIU, Yan CHEN, Zhiqiang HUANG, Yao LIU, Lanhua ZHOU. Research Progress on Establishing and Evaluation of Acne Animal Models [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2023, 43(4): 398-405.
[11]	Jiahui YU, Qian GONG, Lenan ZHUANG. Animal Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Their Application in Drug Research [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2023, 43(4): 381-397.
[12]	Ling HU, Zhibin HU, Yunqing HU, Yuqiang DING. Overview of Studies in Animal Models of Schizophrenia [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2023, 43(2): 145-155.
[13]	Feng WEI, Weiwei CHENG, Yafu YIN. Characteristics and Application of Transgenic Mouse Models in Alzheimer's Disease [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2022, 42(5): 432-439.
[14]	Zhejin SHENG, Limei LI. Research Progress in Animal Model of Alzheimer's Disease [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2022, 42(4): 342-350.
[15]	Yaohua HU, Jumei ZHAO, Changhong SHI. Application of Animal Models in the Functional Studies of Eph Family Proteins [J]. Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine, 2022, 42(4): 351-357.