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Collaborative Research: IntBIO: Mammalian Tail Innovations & Variety Revealed By the Inter — NSF Award to Regents of the Universit

Mammals evolved from a reptile-like ancestor that used its limbs and tail together for walking and running. In early mammals, however, the limbs moved independently from the tail. This allowed mammal tails to evolve entirely new functions or to disappear in species like humans and other apes. Mammal tails play essentia

Award titleCollaborative Research: IntBIO: Mammalian Tail Innovations & Variety Revealed By the Inter
Award ID2500297
AwardeeRegents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
CityANN ARBOR
StateMI
Amount obligated$751,823
Principal investigatorTalia Moore
ProgramCross-BIO Activities, Physiol Mechs & Biomechanics
Start date09/01/2025
AbstractMammals evolved from a reptile-like ancestor that used its limbs and tail together for walking and running. In early mammals, however, the limbs moved independently from the tail. This allowed mammal tails to evolve entirely new functions or to disappear in species like humans and other apes. Mammal tails play essential roles in movement, social interaction, energy storage, and protection. These many functions are enabled by variation in the shape, size, and number of individual vertebrae. Yet,
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