Fish “talk” much like primates
By Peter N. Spotts | Staff Writer for The Christian Science Monitor/ July 27, 2008 edition
Researchers are giving the phrase “primeval grunt” new meaning. In the process, they say, they’re showing that the roots of vocalization – from frog croaks and bird chirps to presidential campaign speeches – may date back hundreds of millions of years to early fish.
The research team from Cornell University, Howard University, and New York University used fluorescent dyes to track the development of neural networks in the budding brains of larval midshipmen fish. The male fish generate a hum, using their swim bladders, to attract mates. The team found that the neural circuits related to vocalization in the fish had distinct similarities to those found in a range of other creatures – including primates. The intricacy of those circuits varied widely, but the basic elements were, in evo-speak, “conserved” among them all.
The results appear in the current issue of the journal Science.
For columnist Robert C. Cowen’s take on this news, check out: Fish hum, grunt, and growl to get their message across
( More stories )
Comments
Leave a Comment
We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The comments feature is a forum to discuss the ideas in our stories. Constructive debate - even pointed disagreement - is welcome, but personal attacks on other commenters are not, and will not be published.
Tip: Do not write a novel. Keep it short. We will not publish lengthy comments. Come up with your own statements. This is not a place to cut and paste an email you received. If we recognize it as such, we won't post it.
Please do not post any comments that are commercial in nature or that violate copyrights.
Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.
