File this under "what it means to be human"

In terms of our sexual behavior, according to Myth of Monogamy, we're most similar to certain bird species (i.e. the human and bird species consist of individuals who are ostensible serial monogamists in terms of sexual partners and of some individuals who are socially monogamous for life). In terms of our social groups, we're most similar to wolves ("which is why we domesticated dogs and not chimpanzees"). Genetically most similar to chimpanzees... socially most similar to wolves... sexually most similar to some bird species....

What about how we learn languages? Specifically, it's zebra finches.

(Tangentially, these kinds of theories help me to understand why people disbelieve "Darwinism." It's fuckin' complicated! Quantum mechanics is complicated too, and if the USA hadn't bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nobody'd buy that science, either.)

More importantly, the mapping of the zebra finch genome may help us to understand the etiology of autism and other speech-related developmental disabilities. My pet theory about the cause of autism is a bit wonky, but I'll take the time to explain it.

I believe that autistic individuals have a misfire in that black box of utmost opacity (i.e. their brains). That misfire disrupts the behavior chain that, in neurotypicals, allows the conditioning of social reinforcers.

The misfire is, like most other genetically caused human diseases, utterly complex. It differs in degree (resulting in the "s" of ASD), can cause both utter debilitation and "savant" qualities and, if you'll allow me to facetiously reference a stereotype, engenders an inordinate liking for trains.

If this misfire is indeed genetically linked, and there are lil' autistic zebra finches, they won't give a flying fig about learning how to sing. So... um... help me prove my theory. ("Prove" in the sense of the phrase "the exception proves the rule." I want to test its mettle.) Nature is a bit over my head, so I'll need any assistance the Internet can offer.