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If DNA doesn’t make humans different from chimps, what does?

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Some researchers think they are on the track of how we get to Beethoven’s Fifth and quantum theory from Ooga! Ooga!

To explain what sets human apart from their ape relatives, researchers have long hypothesized that it is not so much the DNA sequence, but rather the regulation of the genes (i.e. when, where and how strongly the gene is expressed), that plays the key role. However, precisely pinpointing the regulatory elements which act as ‘gene dimmers’ and are positively selected is a challenging task that has thus far defeated researchers.

Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, “The DNA Regions in Our Brain That Contribute to Make Us Human” at Neuroscience News

No. Not really. If your coins keep coming up heads instead of tails, millions of years after millions of years, something is happening that isn’t mere chance.

Comments
ET @7: quite right! Most of the DNA is common because most of the proteins (building materials) are the same. You can use the same bricks, beams, shingles, etc. to make a church or a prison, a house or a motel. For more, see: https://thopid.blogspot.com/2019/02/a-junk-dna-functionality-analogy.html Fasteddious
You will appreciate this, BobRyan, Englishman, “we fight for honour, you fight for gold.” Frenchman, (shrugs) “Everyone fights for what he lacks.” Not saying it’s true, but is witty. Belfast
It isn't the DNA nor how it is regulated. DNA and how it is regulated just provide the raw materials. The raw materials do not determine biological form any more than the raw materials determines the type of house. The raw materials just put constraints on the type of organism or house. ET
Actually if you can and re-posted that would be great Jerry AaronS1978
What goes around, comes around. This was discussed in detail here a few years ago. A pro ID researcher listed all the studies that show the epigenetic sequences that turn on genes linked to neural development in humans. Apparently there are 500+ Have to see if I can find it. jerry
The reason so many humans appreciate music is so few humans possess the ability to make music that sounds good. If all humans possessed the ability to sing, for example, there would be no appreciation for it. We appreciate what we lack. A man who never knows hunger will never appreciate a simple meal; unlike a man who has known hunger. BobRyan
If the difference is in the switchable epigenes, it would have switched both ways many times. Under the right combination of stress or abundance, chimps should suddenly gain human abilities or vice versa. The more interesting question to me is why humans share so many talents with birds instead of other mammals. Making and appreciating music is one of those shared talents. Most birds do it. No other mammals do it. polistra
This is not the first time we have found a gene that makes us more specifically human then a chimp in the brain However the concern that they made the claim that they have a pathway now to map our human Cognitive abilities genetically worries the shit out of me AaronS1978
>If DNA doesn’t make humans different from chimps, what does? Bell-bottoms. EDTA

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