A single genetic tweak that occurred among our ancestors 25 million years ago means humans today are unable to grow a tail, according to a new study.
Scientists knew that a gene called TBXT was involved in the snipping of the tail.
Asep Supriatna/Getty ImagesWandering DNA snipped off our tailsThe solution, they found, was in a type of "jumping gene" called an Alu element.
Scientists found two Alu elements around a part of the TBXT gene, called Exon 6.
Scientists tested their findings by inserting Alu sequences in mice.
Persons:
—, Himanshu Sharma, it's, we've, Asep Supriatna, Miriam Konkel, Emily Casanova, Konkel, Casanova
Organizations:
Service, Business, Anadolu Agency, Getty, NYU, Grossman School of Medicine, Nature, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Science
Locations:
Pushkar, Rajasthan, India