10/28/2017 Talk To Me: Genetics Influence Language Development In Babies

Science/Tech

Talk To Me: Genetics In uence Language Development In Babies

Sep 16, 2014 11:00 AM By Shweta Iyer

Genetics play a major role in language acquisition in toddlers, an international study has found. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

 Tweet  E-mail
 Share
Share


Parents may be well aware that how much and what they speak to their kids in uences how well children pick up a
particular language. While the role of environment in language building skills cannot be discounted, according to new
research, it is genetics that contributes to the development of language during infancy.

This was the discovery made by scientists from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Integrative Epidemiology Unit at
the University of Bristol, who in collaboration with scientists all over the world found that genetic changes near the
ROBO2 gene is directly linked to the number of words spoken by children in the early stages of language development.
The study has been published in Nature Communications.

Healthy kids, in general, start speaking words at 10 to 15 months of age, and the skill develops with age. At 15 to 18
months, children can speak around 50 words, 200 words at 18 to 30 months, 14,000 words at 6 years old, and over
50,000 words by the time they leave secondary school. 

The researchers found that a speci c genetic region on chromosome 3 in uenced speech ability in infants.
Chromosome 3 has earlier been implicated in connection with speech and learning disorders, such as spelling, reading
disability, or dyslexia. This is because chromosome 3 carries the gene ROBO2 that plays a vital role in speech
development.

This gene contains the instructions for making the ROBO2 protein, which directs chemicals in brain cells and other
neuronal cell formations that may help infants to develop language and also produce sounds. In the current research,
scientists studied speech-forming abilities in over 10,000 infants aged 15 to 18 months, when they typically
communicate with single words. ROBO2 protein also closely interacts with other ROBO proteins that have previously
been linked to problems with reading and the storage of speech sounds.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/talk-me-genetics-influence-language-development-babies-303278 1/5
10/28/2017 Talk To Me: Genetics Influence Language Development In Babies

"This research helps us to better understand the genetic factors which may be involved in the early language
development in healthy children, particularly at a time when children speak with single words only, and strengthens
the link between ROBO proteins and a variety of linguistic skills in humans,” lead researcher Dr. Beate St. Pourcain said
in a statement.

The results of this genetic analysis corroborated earlier ndings on speech development conducted on twins — that
genetics in uence language development. These earlier researches have shown that a twin has an 80 percent chance of
having language disability if his or her identical twin also has it. But in case of fraternal twins, there is only a 42
percent chance of shared learning disability. 

Source: St. Pourcain B, Haworth C, Smith D, et al. Common Variation Near ROBO2 is Associated with Expressive
Vocabulary in Infancy, Nature Communications. 2014.


Comment
 Tweet  E-mail
 Share
Share


Promoted Links Ads by Revcontent

Vitality

Under the Hood

Innovation

The Hill
Wall Street is Furious Over the New Trading Algorithm Watch How This Simple Method Can "Regrow" Your Hair Make
These 20 Animals' Net Worth Will  You  for
 Gasp 
CorrecTrade Naturally. Try Tonight Breathe
The Grapevine Regrow Hair TrendySlide

Weird Medicine

Conditions

The World's 10 Most Dangerous Airports. #4 Makes No The 25 Best College Degrees To Pursue To Get You A High Last Photo: What Happened After This Photo Was
Sense! Paying Job Horrifying
KnowledgeDish KnowledgeDish TrendySlide

ADVERTISEMENT

MOST READ

Early Menopause More Likely For Women With This Weight Issue
http://www.medicaldaily.com/talk-me-genetics-influence-language-development-babies-303278 2/5
10/28/2017 Talk To Me: Genetics Influence Language Development In Babies

Parkinson’s Gene Kills O Brain Cells It’s Supposed To Protect

Hair Loss May Peak In Fall

ADVERTISEMENT

NEXT Kindergartner Crowdfunds Milk For Her Cla… 🔇

SPONSORED CONTENT ON MEDICAL DAILY

How to Fight Hunger: Empowering

Families With Target and Local Non-
Pro ts
By Target

MOST READ
1.
Early Menopause More Likely For Women
With This Weight Issue

2.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/talk-me-genetics-influence-language-development-babies-303278 3/5
10/28/2017 Talk To Me: Genetics Influence Language Development In Babies
Parkinson’s Gene Kills O Brain Cells It’s
Supposed To Protect

3.
Hair Loss May Peak In Fall

4.
Pole Dancing Could Be Olympic Event

5.
New Moms Turn Breast Milk Into Jewelry

ADVERTISEMENT

http://www.medicaldaily.com/talk-me-genetics-influence-language-development-babies-303278 4/5
10/28/2017 Talk To Me: Genetics Influence Language Development In Babies

MOST READ
1.
Early Menopause More Likely For Women
With This Weight Issue

2.
Parkinson’s Gene Kills O Brain Cells It’s
Supposed To Protect

3.
Hair Loss May Peak In Fall

4.
Pole Dancing Could Be Olympic Event

5.
New Moms Turn Breast Milk Into Jewelry

ADVERTISEMENT

NOW PLAYING ⟨ 1 of 22 ⟩ ▌▌🔇 HD

Creepy Crawlers Could One Day Treat Lung Cancer

NEXT Passenger Sues Airline For Serving Him Spark…





VitalityUnder the HoodInnovationThe HillThe GrapevineWeird MedicineConditions
AboutContactAdvertisingPrivacy PolicyTerms Of ServiceSubscribe
© 2017 Newsweek Media Group All rights reserved.
Medical Daily is for informational purposes and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Read more.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/talk-me-genetics-influence-language-development-babies-303278 5/5