The neurobiologist Erich Jarvis studies the few species capable of speech. He has long hoped to genetically engineer an animal that can make new calls.
Imagine a chicken that could speak or a pigeon with a voice rivaling that of the most musical songbirds.
Granted, the world probably doesn’t need any gossiping chickens or pigeons breaking out in song. But why some birds learn to create a deep repert... [712 chars]