Current estimates for when the Neandertal and modern human lineages split suggest that the new form of FOXP2 must have emerged at least half a million years ago.

• 德国马克士普朗克演化人类学研究所的科学家，检查了已灭绝的尼安德塔人化石中FOXP2基因的序列，发现尼安德塔人的FOXP2基因型和现代智人一样，或许尼安德塔人和我们一样能够咬字说话。