do you think we may evolve to not have one, given its lack of functionality?
2006-09-06 23:30:00 · 20 answers · asked by HarryBore 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
cut it off and see what your balance is like...
friend of mine lost a little toe and kept falling over
2006-09-06 23:33:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
We'll never evolve to not have one now. In fact, I think humans have outgrown the whole natural selection type of evolution. Handycapable people still have girlfriends and boyfriends and breed, and we don't just leave them in the gutter to die! And quite right that we shouldn't.
Fair enough, if natural selection was still a factor, yeah, it would take a heck of a long time though. The only advantage I can see of not having it would be the energy you'd save not producing it. But that would probably be outweighed by the fact it would give slightly better balance. Phew, that made no sense did it.
Short answer: No, it does us no harm to have it, therefore people without it would have no advantage.
2006-09-07 06:36:37 · answer #2 · answered by Xenophonix 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
We need ALL our toes for balance, even with shoes on. People such as diabetics or those who have suffered frostbite, who have had toes removed, notice the difference. It's much harder to walk and keep your balance without them, even that little one. The toes flex when walking and help us "grip" the surface of the floor etc. even inside our shoes. And of course being made in graduated sizes gives us a better purchase. We were excellently designed, I think, and I don't think we can do without many of our components.
2006-09-07 06:38:34 · answer #3 · answered by anna 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In 'footology' it probably signifies another part of the body...
But it is true that we are slowly evolving and that eventually we will only have 4 toes. ~ So its fairly useless unless you have it removed, because your body has relied on being the way it is...
... Removal of your little toe, however useless, may cause imbalance.
2006-09-07 06:39:12 · answer #4 · answered by true_strike 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
All our body nerves end at the foot. Each toe has nerve of a particular body organ end at its location...I am not able to recollect the function of the little toe..but you can get it in the net I believe...
2006-09-07 06:47:57 · answer #5 · answered by Ajit 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's a question of balance, having broken mine on both feet I know how hard it is to walk without them !
2006-09-07 06:36:46 · answer #6 · answered by paul b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a good buffer for things like tin cans and door stops. And I think you need it for balance, but that's by the by.
2006-09-07 06:31:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's for playing "This little piggy went to market" on baby's feet. Take it away and there aren't enough toes to fill the rhyme.
2006-09-07 06:37:52 · answer #8 · answered by Dramafreak 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
i think you will find that all your toes have an inportant role to play in your balance, have it removed and you will see, seems useless i know but it is as important as all your fingers and toes.
2006-09-07 06:34:12 · answer #9 · answered by MARK C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is essential that our toes are graduated down to the little toe, otherwie our feet would not fit in to shoes ;o)
2006-09-07 06:50:35 · answer #10 · answered by curiousness 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋