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Study Reveals Fish Cloaca's Role in Finger Evolution

9/23/2025

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Summary

Story summary

New research suggests human fingers evolved from a fish's cloaca about 380 million years ago.
DNA switches governing digit development may originate from those regulating cloaca formation, United States and Swiss researchers comparing Hoxd genes.
Deleting these regulatory elements in mice disrupted digits, and zebrafish cloacas were affected, suggesting repurposed genetic tools in tetrapod evolution; more research is needed.

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Story summary

New research suggests human fingers evolved from a fish's cloaca about 380 million years ago.
DNA switches governing digit development may originate from those regulating cloaca formation, United States and Swiss researchers comparing Hoxd genes.
Deleting these regulatory elements in mice disrupted digits, and zebrafish cloacas were affected, suggesting repurposed genetic tools in tetrapod evolution; more research is needed.