[Campbell Biology P.510] Based on the information provided, which of the following statement... | Practice Question

Based on the information provided, which of the following statements about the FOXP2 gene is TRUE?

  • A: The two amino acids in FOXP2 originally thought to be human-specific were also found in Neanderthals and Denisovans.
  • B: The 2018 study confirmed strong natural selection for the human-specific amino acids in FOXP2.
  • C: The FOXP2 gene's product primarily regulates genes involved in brain size rather than vocalization.
  • D: "Humanized" mice with the human FOXP2 gene showed significant health problems and could not vocalize.

Explanation

The passage states that the 2014 sequencing of Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes revealed that some DNA sequences from both species encode the same two amino acids as human FOXP2, indicating these amino acids are not human-specific. This directly supports option A. Options B, C, and D are contradicted by the text.