# On the genetic basis of tail-loss evolution in humans and apes

*PRI Rank #19 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited RNA Research and Splicing Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/rna-research-and-splicing/2026/rank-19*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #19 |
| 18m citations | 61 |
| Journal | Nature |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41586-024-07095-8 |
| Corresponding authors | Bo Xia, Jef D. Boeke, Itai Yanai |
| Institution | NYU Langone Health, United States |

**Ranking page:** [Topics and Trends in Most Cited RNA Research and Splicing Papers, Class of 2026](https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/rna-research-and-splicing/2026)

**Paper link:** [10.1038/s41586-024-07095-8](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07095-8)

## Topics

tail-loss evolution · hominoids · Alu element insertion · TBXT gene · alternative splicing · exon skipping · Tbxt isoforms · mouse models · embryonic tail bud · tail-loss phenotype · neural tube defects · human bipedalism · intronic Alu pairing · reverse genomic orientation · hominoid-specific splicing · adaptive cost · anthropomorphous apes

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited RNA Research and Splicing Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/rna-research-and-splicing/2026. Accessed 2026-07-21.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
```