#1
#1 out of 1
22h ago
Why do we have five fingers and toes?
- Scientists say five digits come from a shared evolutionary and genetic blueprint found in fish fins and land limbs.
- CRISPR-Cas gene editing helped show that fins and digits share the same development genes, linking fish evolution to human hands.
- Most land vertebrates share the same five-fingered bone structure, suggesting a conserved digit plan across tetrapods.
- Polydactyly, having extra digits, is linked to overexpression of the sonic hedgehog gene.
- Researchers traced fin rays in fish back to a five-digit blueprint encoded by Hox genes.
- Exact origins of five digits remain debated, but research emphasizes a shared evolutionary toolkit.
- Five-digit evolution likely began millions of years ago as fish fin rays transformed into land limbs.
- Five digits are common among land vertebrates, aiding grasp and movement.
- Human digits offer an example of how evolution shapes body plans through genetics.
- The study links limb development to broader genetic conservation across vertebrates.
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