Why humans no longer have tails ..

[SelfSim]

Scientists have discovered why humans no longer have tails

Around 25 million years ago, an evolutionary split occurred between our ancestors, the precursors of humans and apes, and monkeys, resulting in the loss of tails in our lineage. However, the genetic mutation responsible for this significant transformation has remained elusive until now.

In a new study published in Nature, researchers unveiled a unique DNA mutation linked to the disappearance of ancestral tails. This mutation resides within the TBXT gene, which plays a role in tail length regulation in tailed animals.

The details:

In the latest study, researchers identified two Alu elements within the TBXT gene exclusive to great apes, absent in monkeys. Interestingly, these elements reside in introns, sections of DNA flanking exons that were traditionally deemed non-functional "dark matter." However, when the TBXT gene produces RNA, the repetitive nature of Alu sequences causes them to bind together, resulting in the removal of an entire exon during RNA splicing.

Experimentation involving the introduction of these Alu elements {repetitive DNA sequences unique to primates, which can introduce variability by inserting themselves into the genome} into mice revealed a loss of tails, mirroring the evolutionary transition observed in humans and apes. Notably, this finding supports the hypothesis that tail loss facilitated the evolution of bipedalism in humans, a crucial adaptation.

 

[Ophiolite]

I regret the loss of the tail. It would have been such a useful appendage, especially if highly prehensile. Carrying car keys, ringing door bells when your hands are full, sending various signals (a whole new subset of body language), displays of affection, etc. I'm still not conviced that coming out of the trees was the right move!

 

[trophy33]

I regret the loss of the tail. It would have been such a useful appendage, especially if highly prehensile. Carrying car keys, ringing door bells when your hands are full, sending various signals (a whole new subset of body language), displays of affection, etc. I'm still not conviced that coming out of the trees was the right move!

Considering that we are sitting for almost the whole day, having a tail would be quite uncomfortable.

 

[Ophiolite]

Considering that we are sitting for almost the whole day, having a tail would be quite uncomfortable.

This would have led us to stand up a great deal more than we do. Avoiding the sedentary lifestyle would have greatly improved our health and simultaneoulsy made bureaurocracies much less popular. It'w Win-Win all the way.

 

[Lost4words]

Considering that we are sitting for almost the whole day, having a tail would be quite uncomfortable.

I beg to differ. Very comfortable as far as i am concerned!!

 

[Ophiolite]

I beg to differ. Very comfortable as far as i am concerned!!

My cat agrees with you, though she remarks that it is unusual for a dog to be so astute.

On a more serious note the article states: "Interestingly, these elements reside in introns, sections of DNA flanking exons that were traditionally deemed non-functional "dark matter."
Does this count as what has been referred to as junk DNA? A term that those who introduced it are likely now regretting.

 

[NBB]

Evolution is less complex and 'intelligent' than a computer process, not even with human help with computer we could create consciousness and intelligence like humans, and we are supposed to believe evolution did all that without any help at all.

 

[Ophiolite]

Evolution is less complex and 'intelligent' than a computer process, not even with human help with computer we could create consciousness and intelligence like humans, and we are supposed to believe evolution did all that without any help at all.

Please support your assertion that evolution is "less complex" than a computer process.

What makes you think that mere human efforts aided by promitve computing power, over a couple of decades could compete with trillions times trillions of genetic experiments conducted in diverse and dynamic environments over hundreds of millions of years? The comparison is ludicrous. The scoreline: Humans and Computer 0 - Nature and Evolution 10^19

 

[Nithavela]

There are still, very rarely, humans with a vestigial tail born. Most of those are either surgically removed or hidden out of fear of stigmatisation.

Human Tail: A Benign Condition Hidden Out of Social Stigma and Shame in Young Adult – A Case Report and Review

A human tail is a rare congenital anomaly which mostly presents immediately after birth or in early childhood. Here, we are presenting a case of 17-year-old male who presented with 18-cm long tail, which was hidden till this age because of social stigma ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Chesterton]

This is fascinating, but I never knew humans had tails. Anyone have a citation for this?

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Scientists have discovered why humans no longer have tails


The details:

In the interest of those who are taking this seriously, human beings are made in the image of God. Man , like animals, are reproduced after its "own kind". Apes ,and the such , are one kind and humans are another kind. Not the same kind.
Blessings.

 

[returntosender]

I have heard of this long ago. I'm thinking it comes from the bone appendage at the end of our spines that curves out.

 

[NBB]

Please support your assertion that evolution is "less complex" than a computer process.

What makes you think that mere human efforts aided by promitve computing power, over a couple of decades could compete with trillions times trillions of genetic experiments conducted in diverse and dynamic environments over hundreds of millions of years? The comparison is ludicrous. The scoreline: Humans and Computer 0 - Nature and Evolution 10^19

Ugh, an error occurs gets selected: the best one? that can build consciousness and intelligence? even if were true that the best one can be selected like that.

 

[returntosender]

How Humans Lost Their Tails

A newly discovered genetic mechanism helped eliminate the tails of human ancestors

www.scientificamerican.com

 

[Ophiolite]

Ugh, an error occurs gets selected: the best one? that can build consciousness and intelligence? even if were true that the best one can be selected like that.

So your counter argument is that since you don't understand the process of evolution, evolution must be nonsense. That's the logical fallacy of Argument from Incredulity. It can be summarily dismissed.

To help you out a little, no one said anything about the "best one", rather the better one, on balance, from those that are available for the current environment and always subject to contingency - and acting through trillions of entities over billions of years. By all means reject it because you don't like it, but please don't pretend you have substantive evidence to support your dismissal.

 

[SelfSim]

In the interest of those who are taking this seriously, human beings are made in the image of God. Man , like animals, are reproduced after its "own kind". Apes ,and the such , are one kind and humans are another kind. Not the same kind.
Blessings.

So if we are made in the image of God, then God must've also inherited the same tail-less-ness, courtesy of the split and mutation some 25 million years ago.
Don't you find that interesting?
I mean, I think we're hot on the trail of figuring out God's evolution here!

 

[SelfSim]

There are still, very rarely, humans with a vestigial tail born. Most of those are either surgically removed or hidden out of fear of stigmatisation.

Human Tail: A Benign Condition Hidden Out of Social Stigma and Shame in Young Adult – A Case Report and Review

A human tail is a rare congenital anomaly which mostly presents immediately after birth or in early childhood. Here, we are presenting a case of 17-year-old male who presented with 18-cm long tail, which was hidden till this age because of social stigma ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Interesting report .. thanks for posting. (I hope these folk get together with the OP researchers).
There are a couple of interesting things to note. For example:

The occurrence of human tail is a phenomenon of great interest to both lay and medical community. There are only 40 cases of true human tails reported in literature, hence this condition warrants review

These cases should provide more information about the expression of RNA from the TBXT gene and the subsequent removal of the exon during splicing in individuals. Do/did these people actually have the same type of mutation as those who don't/didn't who go on to develop tails?

Also interesting are their reports of how religious believers and lack of education, impacts the handling of the condition (aka: stigmatise it, or glorify it):

In some parts of the world, human tail is considered to be a curse and hence social stigma, fear, and shame associated with this condition along with lack of knowledge and illiteracy may be causing underreporting or late reporting of this condition. In rural parts of India, child born with tail is sometimes considered as auspicious gift from monkey god “Hanuman,” and the parents may be hesitant to report this condition due to superstition and fear of rejection. Hence, it is very much important to make general public aware about this condition and successful treatment available for the same.

Goes to emphasise how commitment to the pursuit of scientific knowledge (and treatments) from demonstrable knowledge of how the condition actually occurs, as opposed to the terminal: 'God's will made it that way', can work to dispel the crippling social stigmas.

 

[The Barbarian]

Does this count as what has been referred to as junk DNA?

What creationists call "Junk DNA" is known by scientists as "non-coding DNA." Some of it, like our broken vitamin C gene, is junk. But a lot of it has other functions.

A term that those who introduced it are likely now regretting.

Last time I looked, they were still calling it "junk DNA."

 

[returntosender]

For some reason i find this subject repulsive.lol.

 

[AV1611VET]

Scientists have discovered why humans no longer have tails

What humans?

The details:

What details?

Your OP says this:

Around 25 million years ago, an evolutionary split occurred between our ancestors, the precursors of humans and apes, and monkeys, resulting in the loss of tails in our lineage.

Looks to me like humans never had tails in the first place.

Not even on paper.