When apes diverged from monkeys, our branch of the tree of life shed tails. Scientists have identified at least one key genetic mutation that led to the change. Our ancient animal ancestors had tails.

However, humans and our closest primate relatives — the great apes — said farewell to tails about 25 million years ago, when the group split from Old World monkeys.

A genetic parasite may have robbed humans and other apes of their tails. “It was like lightning struck once,” says Jef Boeke, a geneticist at New York University Langone Health, and ape ...

Looking at DNA samples of people, apes without tails, and monkeys, the scientists discovered that the latter is missing a piece of genetic code shared by the former two.

However, humans and our closest primate relatives — the great apes — said farewell to tails about 25 million years ago, when the group split from Old World monkeys.

But Potts notes that they move very differently than monkeys, who scamper along the tops of branches, using their tails for balance. Those apes hang below branches, swinging between them while hanging ...

However, humans and our closest primate relatives — the great apes — said farewell to tails about 25 million years ago, when the group split from Old World monkeys.

A mutation in a gene called TBXT may be behind the loss of great apes' tails, according to a new study. Jabid Ishtiaque via Flickr under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. Our primate ancestors used their tails for ...

Humans’ closest primate relatives lost their tails long ago, but exactly how has remained a mystery. A breakthrough in genetic research may finally offer answers.

WASHINGTON — Our very ancient animal ancestors had tails. Why don’t we? Somewhere around 20 million or 25 million years ago, when apes diverged from monkeys, our branch of the tree of life ...