Researchers may have figured out why different species develop different kinds of genitalia. In snakes and reptiles, the genitals grow to mimic leg buds—producing twin organs. In humans, the genitals grow to mimic a tail bud—so the penis ends up as a single structure. Clifford Tabin, George Jacob and Jacqueline Hazel Leder Professor of Genetics and head of the Department of Genetics, led the research. Patrick Tschopp, research fellow in genetics, is the study's first author.
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