How come we don't have 3 fingers and 3 toes for an example or 6 fingers and 3 toes? (Not sure what category to put my question under. I was looking for category of human atanomy, but since biology is the closet I'll put it here).
2006-12-14 09:33:17 · 16 answers · asked by Bobcat9 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
If you want the evolutionary explanation, it is because about 400 million years ago, there were a bunch of sarcopterygian fish lineages that were all moderately successful. Some had a design that would allow for eight fingers, some for more, some for less, and one for five. For whatever reason but most probably dumb luck, this species, with the five-finger floor plan on its front and hind limbs, managed to make it out onto land and started, all those millions of years ago, the lineage that eventually led to mammals. Basically all mammals have that same floor plan for five digits; it's a homologous trait left as a result of our very ancient fishy ancestors.
2006-12-14 09:51:26 · answer #1 · answered by kiddo 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We have 5 fingers because we needed the ability to have the middle finger centered and standing alone to show our anger in traffic. It would have worked with 3 fingers, but then our music would suck because our guitar players would have limited abilities. If we had 7 fingers, then that middle finger would be too camouflaged by on over-population of fingers on the side.
The reason we have 5 toes is because it's just enough to keep us balanced. More toes would add to our balance, but it would increase the odds of stubbing more toes on the couch in the dark.
2006-12-14 17:37:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
5 fingers is for Picking our noses and flicking them at other people. The toe thing is a bit more interesting actually they were used for climbing. but as we do not climb anymore or at least in civilization it is said that our toe are going to grow together cause we do not need them anymore! Balance is in the big toe the others are of no use to us. Good luck on your qeust for the right answer!!!
2006-12-14 17:44:01 · answer #3 · answered by afishmaan 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm not exactly sure why we have 5 fingers but we have 5 toes on both feet to keep our balance.... If we didn't have all of our toes we couldn't stand or walk or anyhting right
2006-12-14 17:44:38 · answer #4 · answered by Beki 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
So all of humanity would learn to count in Base 10. It brings us together, makes us all one.
Why do some cats have 14 fingers and 8 toes? Weird world we live in...
2006-12-14 17:37:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
its called natural selection. when we were one time a less evolved species, we might have had 2 or 3 fingers. but for some reason having 5 fingers makes us a better human machine.
2006-12-14 17:36:46 · answer #6 · answered by Alex F 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
5 fingers to grab with and 5 toes to help with balance.
2006-12-14 17:34:33 · answer #7 · answered by Amy_S 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because we're AWESOME! =0)
Seriously, we are amazing. Everything is damn near perfect, isn't it? The whole process of how we develop has always amazed me. How each group of cells knows exactly what to become... this little group forms a finger... that group a valve of the heart.
I'll say it again... we're AWESOME!!
2006-12-14 17:43:30 · answer #8 · answered by Elynsana 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
imagine missing or having an extra finger or toe.
2006-12-14 17:35:53 · answer #9 · answered by Caroline 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This little piggy went to the market, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy had roast beef and this little piggy had none, and this little piggy ran all the way weee weee weee home... Maybe so we could keep this old child hood rhyme going, after all who knows where it comes from?
2006-12-14 17:37:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋