• Question: Why do we have different finger sizes

    Asked by xamaj to Cheryl, Christina, Daniel, George, Ivy on 21 Jan 2017.
    • Photo: Cheryl Andisi

      Cheryl Andisi answered on 21 Jan 2017:


      @xamaj
      hello! good question! which i do not have an answer to but will give it a guess.
      I think, this, together with other characteristics we have such as standing upright is an evolutionary adaptation we developed to enable us carry out functions we need in order to survive. Even though evolution is slow and it might take bundred of years to tell differences that have occured during adaptation, i think it is still taking place. An example i can think of at the moment is this community of hunters and gatherers in the amazon who survive on nuts berries and food picked from trees in the amazon and their feet have changed-a different version of our normal human feet and this is thought to be an adaptation to climbing trees

    • Photo: Christina Obiero

      Christina Obiero answered on 24 Jan 2017:


      Hi xamaj, all the fingers have different sizes so as to enable us perform the complex and simple activities that we need to do with our hands. It would be next to impossible to hold a small object with one’s hand if the size and length of the thumb was the same as that of the other fingers. In order to grasp something, we need to fold our fingers towards our palms for them to ahold onto an object.

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