Fundamental human traits, such as language and bipedalism, are associated with a range of anatomical adaptations in craniofacial shaping and skeletal remodeling. However, it is unclear how such morphological features arose during hominin evolution. FOXP2 is a brain-expressed transcription factor implicated in a rare disorder involving speech apraxia and language impairments. Analysis of its evolutionary history suggests that this gene may have contributed to the emergence of proficient spoken language. In the present study, through analyses of skeleton-specific knockout mice, we identified roles of Foxp2 in skull shaping and bone remodeling. Selective ablation of Foxp2 in cartilage disrupted pup vocalizations in a similar way to that of global Foxp2 mutants, which may be due to pleiotropic effects on craniofacial morphogenesis. Our findings also indicate that Foxp2 helps to regulate strength and length of hind limbs and maintenance of joint cartilage and intervertebral discs, which are all anatomical features that are susceptible to adaptations for bipedal locomotion. In light of the known roles of Foxp2 in brain circuits that are important for motor skills and spoken language, we suggest that this gene may have been well placed to contribute to coevolution of neural and anatomical adaptations related to speech and bipedal locomotion.

基本的人类特征，例如语言和两足动物，与颅面成形和骨骼重塑中的一系列解剖适应有关。但是，尚不清楚在人胶素进化过程中如何产生这种形态特征。FOXP2是一种大脑表达的转录因子，与一种罕见的疾病有关，涉及言语失用症和语言障碍。分析其进化史表明，该基因可能有助于熟练的口语的出现。在本研究中，通过分析特定于骨骼的基因敲除小鼠，我们确定了Foxp2在颅骨塑形和骨骼重塑中的作用。软骨中Foxp2的选择性消融以类似于全球Foxp2的方式破坏了幼崽的发声突变体，可能是由于多效性对颅面形态发生的影响。我们的研究结果还表明，Foxp2有助于调节后肢的力量和长度以及关节软骨和椎间盘的维护，这些都是易于适应双足运动的解剖特征。鉴于Foxp2在大脑回路中对运动技能和口语很重要的已知作用，我们建议该基因可能已经被很好地定位为与语音和双足运动相关的神经和解剖适应的共同进化做出了贡献。