• Question: why do we have toes and fingers

    Asked by doctor red radish to Giovanna, Duane on 15 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Giovanna Bermano

      Giovanna Bermano answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      it is the product of evolution….fingers improve the way we can handle objects and ability to do everyday tasks…toes are remaining from our ancestors (apes)…..they had much better toes than we have. Their toes could grip things and, since they lived in trees, they needed those toes to hold onto the tree branches with their feet…..the shape of our feet and toes has developed to provide more balance when walking straight!!!!

    • Photo: Duane Mellor

      Duane Mellor answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      I know toes are important for balance having seen patients struggling to walk after amputations.
      Our hands are fairly unique as we have opposable thumbs which along with our fingers make our hands pretty unique adaptations and very useful

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