Tiny regulatory DNA may have seeded human language before the human-Neanderthal split

A University of Iowa study shows a tiny set of regulatory DNA regions called HAQERs have outsized influence on language ability and existed before the Homo sapiens–Neanderthal split, indicating language biology predates modern humans. These “volume knobs” of gene regulation may shape fetal brain development and skull size, with Neanderthals possibly showing even stronger effects. Using an evolutionary-stratified polygenic score (ES-PGS), researchers mapped language-related genetics across 65 million years and found a balancing selection that plateaued HAQER influence to avoid childbirth risks. The team plans to disentangle genetic and environmental factors using family data and aims for clinical insights; the work was published in Science Advances.