Our ancient animal ancestors had tails. Why don't we?
Scientists have identified a gene mutation that may explain why we don't have tails.
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Scientists have identified a gene mutation that may explain why we don't have tails.
Experts at New York University announced they have discovered why humans lost their tails 25 million years ago, finding it all came down to a single snippet of DNA that is not found in monkeys.
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Director James Cameron's "Avatar" movies are populated by a species of outsized blue beings resembling humans, except with tails. So why does our species lack a tail, considering that our evolutionary forerunners in the primate lineage had them? Scientists on Wednesday identified what might be the genetic mechanism behind the tailless condition of us and our ape ancestors - a mutation in a gene instrumental in embryonic development.
A genetic change in our ancient ancestors may partly explain why humans don't have tails like monkeys, finds a new study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.