Data from: DCDC2 READ1 regulatory element: how temporal processing differences may shape language

Classic linguistic theory ascribes language change and diversity to
population migrations, conquests, and geographic isolation, with the
assumption that human populations have equivalent language processing
abilities. We hypothesize that spectral and temporal characteristics make
some consonant manners vulnerable to differences in temporal precision
associated with specific population allele frequencies. To test this
hypothesis, we modeled association between RU1-1 alleles of DCDC2 and
manner of articulation in 51 populations spanning five continents, and
adjusting for geographic proximity, genetic and linguistic relatedness.
RU1-1 alleles, acting through increased expression of DCDC2, appear to
increase auditory processing precision that enhances stop-consonant
discrimination, favoring retention in some populations and loss by others.
These findings enhance classical linguistic theories by adding a genetic
dimension, which until recently, has not been considered to be a
significant catalyst for language change.