Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter to discover fascinating news about the universe. Humans lost their tails about 25 million years ago due to a genetic code called Alu element, previously dismissed as junk DNA. Scientists found that this element triggered the loss of tails, shedding light on the evolution of bipedalism. The research used genetically modified mice to demonstrate the impact of Alu insertion in tail length, challenging the perception that jumping genes like Alu are “junk.” The study suggests implications for understanding human fetal development and neural tube defects like spina bifida. Dr. Liza Shapiro finds the genetic mechanism behind tail loss intriguing, but the “why” remains a mystery.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/23/world/humans-tails-genetic-mutation-junk-dna-scn/index.html