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Our thumbs are complex instruments; we need big brains to control them. Are they the reason behind the evolution of superior human intelligence?Key facts
- The evolution of our hands and our large brains are closely interlinked.
- A chimp's thumbs are short, allowing them to walk on their knuckles - but preventing them from manipulating objects.
- Humans have long thumbs that allow us to hold and manipulate objects.
- This dexterity proved a key driving force for human intelligence as we found new ways to use our hands.
Transcript
More than a quarter of the bones in your body are found in your hands, with 27 bones in each.
Your hands also contain three main nerves and two major arteries.
2 major arteries
3 main nerves
27 bones in each
There are 2500 nerve receptors in each square centimetre of your fingertips, giving …
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