Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication

Monday 12 December 2022

Research Centre:

Group Highlights

Our research group focuses on the study of vocal communication in mammals as a way to understand the biological basis of human speech and language and how this trait evolved.

Many species of mammal, including our primate cousins, have limited vocal repertoires. But a few mammals such as bats, whales and elephants use complex and varied vocalisations that share some characteristics with human speech, for example, the ability to learn vocalisations from other members of their social group.

Currently very little is known about the genetic basis for these sophisticated vocal behaviours in non-human mammals. Studying such species could provide clues about how human language evolved, and how language abilities are encoded in the brain and the genome.

Research

As part of our quest to understand the neurogenetic bases of vocal learning and social-vocal communication, we devote particular attention to the study of vocal learning and communication behaviour in bats. We use cutting-edge molecular techniques to identify genes and neural circuits that are important for vocal communication and learned vocalisations in this species. We also investigate the causes of language disorders in clinical populations to gain insight into the causes of these disorders, but also to understand the genetic factors underlying normal language development. Candidate genes identified in clinical populations are also explored in our animal models to understand what role they play and why their disruption leads to language-related disorders.

Group Members

Sonja Vernes
Aleksandra Wcislo
Kirsty Hamilton
Sasha Newar
Ine Alvarez van Tussenbroek
Benjamin Thompson
Sixue Lee
Nikita Groot
Alexa Clarke
Alice Crighton
Mike Cummings
Meike Mai

Publications

Chapters

Neuromolecular Approaches to the Study of Language
Vernes, S. C., 2019, Human Language: From Genes And Brains To Behavior. Hagoort, P. (ed.). MIT Press, p. 577-593 17 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

The Genetics of Language: From complex genes to complex communication
Rueschemeyer, S.-A. (Editor), Gaskell, M. G. (Editor), Devanna, P., Dediu, D. & Vernes, S. C., 10 Sept 2018, The Oxford Handbook of Psycholinguistics. Rueschemeyer, S.-A. & Gaskell, M. G. (eds.). Oxford University Press, p. 864-898 Chapter 37
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Genetic pathways implicated in speech and language
Vernes, S. C. & Fisher, S. E., 1 Dec 2013, Animal Models of Speech and Language Disorders. Springer, p. 13-40 28 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Functional Genomic Dissection of Speech and Language Disorders
Vernes, S. C. & Fisher, S. E., 2011, Genomics, Proteomics, And The Nervous System. Clelland, J. (ed.). p. 253-278 26 p.
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Articles

Bat genomes illuminate adaptations to viral tolerance and disease resistance
Morales, A. E., Dong, Y., Brown, T., Baid, K., Kontopoulos, D. G., Gonzalez, V., Huang, Z., Ahmed, A. W., Bhuinya, A., Hilgers, L., Winkler, S., Hughes, G., Li, X., Lu, P., Yang, Y., Kirilenko, B. M., Devanna, P., Lama, T. M., Nissan, Y. & Pippel, M. & 14 others, Dávalos, L. M., Vernes, S. C., Puechmaille, S. J., Rossiter, S. J., Yovel, Y., Prescott, J. B., Kurth, A., Ray, D. A., Lim, B. K., Myers, E., Teeling, E. C., Banerjee, A., Irving, A. T. & Hiller, M., 13 Feb 2025, In: Nature. 638, 8050, p. 449-458 10 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Proteomic signatures of SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in Mexican free-tailed bats and their application to viral surveillance
Becker, D. J., Vicente-Santos, A., Morales, A. E., Dyer, K. E., Olbrys, B. L., Lock, L. R., Smotherman, M. S., Vernes, S. C., Hiller, M., Adams, A. M., Phinney, B. S., Frick, W. F. & Hall, J. S., Dec 2025, In: Integrative and Comparative Biology. 65, 6, p. 1884–1900 17 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Representation of vocalizations in the frontal auditory field and the dorsal auditory cortex of bats
Hoerpel, S. G., Vernes, S. C. & Firzlaff, U., 22 May 2025, In: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1547, 1, p. 116-130 15 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

The genome sequence of Artibeus intermedius (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae, Stenodermatinae; J. A. Allen, 1897)
Simmons, N. B., Ingala, M. R., O'Toole, B. P., McCaffrey, K., Formenti, G., Philge, P., Gupta, S., Jarvis, E. D., Zhang, N., Gray, J. L., Brajuka, N., Pieri, M., Mai, M., Teeling, E. C., Vernes, S. C., The Bat Biology Foundation & The Bat1K Consortium, 8 Dec 2025, In: Wellcome Open Research. 10, p. 1-13 13 p., 314.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

The genome sequence of Artibeus lituratus (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae, Stenodermatinae; Olfers, 1818).
Simmons, N. B., Ingala, M. R., O'Toole, B. P., Formenti, G., Philge, P., Zhang, N., Jarvis, E. D., Gray, J. L., McCaffrey, K., Brajuka, N., Pieri, M., Mai, M., Teeling, E. C., Vernes, S. C., The Bat Biology Foundation & The Bat1K Consortium, 24 Oct 2025, In: Wellcome Open Research. 10, p. 1-12 12 p., 170.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

The genome sequence of Glossophaga mutica (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae, Glossophaginae; Merriam, 1898)
Simmons, N. B., Ingala, M. R., O'Toole, B. P., Abueg, L., McCaffrey, K., Koo, B., Formenti, G., Jarvis, E. D., Pieri, M., Mai, M., Singh, L. N., Philge, P., Lindsey, L. L., Zhang, N., Gray, J. L., Teeling, E. C., Vernes, S. C., The Bat Biology Foundation & The Bat1K Consortium, 24 Oct 2025, In: Wellcome Open Research. 10, p. 1-13 13 p., 174.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Morphological diversity in the brains of 12 Neotropical bat species
van Tussenbroek, I. A., Knörnschild, M., Nagy, M., ten Cate, C. J. & Vernes, S. C., 12 Feb 2024, In: Acta Chiropterologica. 25, 2, p. 323-338 16 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

The genome sequence of Daubenton's bat, Myotis daubentonii (Kuhl, 1817)
Ruedi, M., Vernes, S., Teeling, E. C., Mai, M., Blaxter, M., Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life & Darwin Tree of Life Consortium, 1 Mar 2024, In: Wellcome Open Research. 9, 107, 13 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

The genome sequence of Molossus alvarezi González-Ruiz, Ramírez-Pulido and Arroyo-Cabrales, 2011 (Chiroptera, Molossidae)
Simmons, N. B., Ingala, M. R., Pieri, M., O'Toole, B. P., Gray, J. L., Philge, P., Volkert, T. L., Zhang, N., Abueg, L., Brajuka, N., Jarvis, E. D., Formenti, G., McCaffrey, K., Mai, M., Teeling, E. C., Vernes, S. & Bat1K Consortium, 12 Sept 2024, In: Wellcome Open Research. 9, 522, 13 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

The genome sequence of Rhynchonycteris naso, Peters, 1867 (Chiroptera, Emballonuridae, Rhynchonycteris)
Alvarez van Tussenbroek, I., Knörnschild, M., Nagy, M., O'Toole, B. P., Formenti, G., Philge, P., Zhang, N., Abueg, L., Brajuka, N., Jarvis, E. D., Volkert, T. L., Gray, J. L., Pieri, M., Mai, M., Teeling, E. C., Vernes, S. & Bat1K Consortium, 10 Jul 2024, In: Wellcome Open Research. 9, 361, 13 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Other publications

Author correction: Universal DNA methylation age across mammalian tissues
Lu, A. T., Fei, Z., Haghani, A., Robeck, T. R., Zoller, J. A., Li, C. Z., Lowe, R., Yan, Q., Zhang, J., Vu, H., Ablaeva, J., Acosta-Rodriguez, V. A., Adams, D. M., Almunia, J., Aloysius, A., Ardehali, R., Arneson, A., Baker, C. S., Banks, G. & Belov, K. & 168 others, Bennett, N. C., Black, P., Blumstein, D. T., Bors, E. K., Breeze, C. E., Brooke, R. T., Brown, J. L., Carter, G. G., Caulton, A., Cavin, J. M., Chakrabarti, L., Chatzistamou, I., Chen, H., Cheng, K., Chiavellini, P., Choi, O. W., Clarke, S. M., Cooper, L. N., Cossette, M. L., Day, J., DeYoung, J., DiRocco, S., Dold, C., Ehmke, E. E., Emmons, C. K., Emmrich, S., Erbay, E., Erlacher-Reid, C., Faulkes, C. G., Ferguson, S. H., Finno, C. J., Flower, J. E., Gaillard, J. M., Garde, E., Gerber, L., Gladyshev, V. N., Gorbunova, V., Goya, R. G., Grant, M. J., Green, C. B., Hales, E. N., Hanson, M. B., Hart, D. W., Haulena, M., Herrick, K., Hogan, A. N., Hogg, C. J., Hore, T. A., Huang, T., Izpisua Belmonte, J. C., Jasinska, A. J., Jones, G., Jourdain, E., Kashpur, O., Katcher, H., Katsumata, E., Kaza, V., Kiaris, H., Kobor, M. S., Kordowitzki, P., Koski, W. R., Krützen, M., Kwon, S. B., Larison, B., Lee, S. G., Lehmann, M., Lemaitre, J. F., Levine, A. J., Li, C., Li, X., Lim, A. R., Lin, D. T. S., Lindemann, D. M., Little, T. J., Macoretta, N., Maddox, D., Matkin, C. O., Mattison, J. A., McClure, M., Mergl, J., Meudt, J. J., Montano, G. A., Mozhui, K., Munshi-South, J., Naderi, A., Nagy, M., Narayan, P., Nathanielsz, P. W., Nguyen, N. B., Niehrs, C., O’Brien, J. K., O’Tierney Ginn, P., Odom, D. T., Ophir, A. G., Osborn, S., Ostrander, E. A., Parsons, K. M., Paul, K. C., Pellegrini, M., Peters, K. J., Pedersen, A. B., Petersen, J. L., Pietersen, D. W., Pinho, G. M., Plassais, J., Poganik, J. R., Prado, N. A., Reddy, P., Rey, B., Ritz, B. R., Robbins, J., Rodriguez, M., Russell, J., Rydkina, E., Sailer, L. L., Salmon, A. B., Sanghavi, A., Schachtschneider, K. M., Schmitt, D., Schmitt, T., Schomacher, L., Schook, L. B., Sears, K. E., Seifert, A. W., Seluanov, A., Shafer, A. B. A., Shanmuganayagam, D., Shindyapina, A. V., Simmons, M., Singh, K., Sinha, I., Slone, J., Snell, R. G., Soltanmaohammadi, E., Spangler, M. L., Spriggs, M. C., Staggs, L., Stedman, N., Steinman, K. J., Stewart, D. T., Sugrue, V. J., Szladovits, B., Takahashi, J. S., Takasugi, M., Teeling, E. C., Thompson, M. J., Van Bonn, B., Vernes, S. C., Villar, D., Vinters, H. V., Wallingford, M. C., Wang, N., Wayne, R. K., Wilkinson, G. S., Williams, C. K., Williams, R. W., Yang, X. W., Yao, M., Young, B. G., Zhang, B., Zhang, Z., Zhao, P., Zhao, Y., Zhou, W., Zimmermann, J., Ernst, J., Raj, K. & Horvath, S., 1 Nov 2023, In: Nature Aging. 3, 11, p. 1462 1 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

Author correction: DNA methylation predicts age and provides insight into exceptional longevity of bats
Wilkinson, G. S., Adams, D. M., Haghani, A., Lu, A. T., Zoller, J., Breeze, C. E., Arnold, B. D., Ball, H. C., Carter, G. G., Cooper, L. N., Dechmann, D. K. N., Devanna, P., Fasel, N. J., Galazyuk, A. V., Günther, L., Hurme, E., Jones, G., Knörnschild, M., Lattenkamp, E. Z. & Li, C. Z. & 16 others, Mayer, F., Reinhardt, J. A., Medellin, R. A., Nagy, M., Pope, B., Power, M. L., Ransome, R. D., Teeling, E. C., Vernes, S. C., Zamora-Mejías, D., Zhang, J., Faure, P. A., Greville, L. J., Herrera M., L. G., Flores-Martínez, J. J. & Horvath, S., 7 Sept 2022, In: Nature Communications. 13, 1 p., 5266.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

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