Scientists have identified the gene responsible for the loss of the tail in hominoids. They used the famous CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit the gene.
The researchers believe that the mutation was introduced around 25 million years ago. Lack of a tail may have had an evolutionary advantage in that its loss facilitated the evolution of bipedal locomotion, the researchers say. The rear appendage, which is found in most vertebrates, is located in the extension of the column, they say.