Learn about the FOXP2 gene, which is related to speech and language, in this video from NOVA Wonders: What Are Animals Saying? Genetic analysis on a family with multiple generations of members who had trouble speaking led to the discovery of the FOXP2 gene. Neuroscientist Erich Jarvis describes how songbirds that have been genetically modified with a FOXP2 mutation cannot imitate sounds properly. Similarly, a male mouse with the FOXP2 mutation produces simpler songs compared to a normal mouse; this indicates that the gene appears to affect the ability to make complex sounds even in animals that are not vocal learners like songbirds and humans. This resource is part of the NOVA Wonders Collection.