The Genetic Basis of Voice and Speech: Study Identifies ABCC9 Gene Associated with Pitch and Health

Genetic Basis of Voice and Speech

Speaking is one of the most distinctive features of human behavior, yet the genetic basis of voice and speech is largely unknown to the scientific community.

Innovative Study Reveals Genetic Variants Associated with Voice

In a first-of-its-kind study, scientists combined speech recordings of nearly 13,000 Icelanders with genome sequencing data to find common variants in ABCC9 associated with a louder, husky voice or vice versa.

Higher Voice Pitch Linked to DNA Sequence

The team found that the higher pitch of voice in both men and women is associated with a region of DNA called ABCC9. The same sequence variants are also associated with elevated pulse pressure, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, highlighting the relationship between pitch and health-related signs.

And researchers at the Icelandic Decode Genetics Foundation say having a genetically higher voice may mean you’re more likely to have heart problems.

Hoarse Voice as a Result of Sexual Selection

Previous research has shown that men with a rougher voice may have higher testosterone levels, a stronger upper body and are described as more attractive and dominant, the team explains in an article published in the journal Science Advances. Research has also shown that they run larger businesses.

The researchers suggest that the hoarseness of the human voice is likely the result of sexual selection in the past. In other words, men with rougher voices acted more sexually.

The Role of ABBC9 Gene and its Impact on Voice

The exact way the gene makes the voice rougher or louder is not yet known.

But the ABBC9 gene affects the adrenal glands, which produce a lot of steroids known to affect pitch, which are later converted in the body to testosterone and other sex hormones. Researchers say a gene linked to tone of voice is also linked to high blood pressure and poor heart health.

Genetics of Vowel Phonetics

In addition to pitch, the study examined the genetics of vowel phonetics. Scientists have found that vowel sounds such as “ah” or “and”, although they are clearly influenced by culture and context, contain an inherited element that is likely related to the shape of the vocal tract and its influence on vowel sounds.

Contribution to Understanding the Human Vocal System

The data obtained shed new light on the diversity of sounds and speech, contributing to a better understanding of the human vocal system.

Source

Daily Mail

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