Thumbs and the Evolution of Culture

Do pandas have thumbs? Kind of. We should periodically take the time to acknowledge and admire the significan role our biological morphology affects our psychology as a species. Aside from language, humans have a simple adaptation that wsa likely crucial to how we have evolved as a species.  This is our episode all about thumbs! 

Recommendations

• Abraham: No Hard Feelings (https://www.sonypictures.com/movies/nohardfeelings)
• Shane: The Cipher by Kathe Koja (https://www.centipedepress.com/horror/cipher.html)

Links: 

1. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-dexterous-thumbs-may-have-helped-shape-evolution-two-million-years-ago-180976870/
2. https://www.npr.org/2010/07/26/128676181/a-handy-bunch-tools-thumbs-helped-us-thrive
3. https://www.postregister.com/outdoors/humans-opposable-thumbs-grant-us-huge-advantages/article_87f0ce8c-c739-11ed-a365-4fadeb3996f9.html
4. https://www.wral.com/story/thumbs-gave-human-ancestors-a-formidable-advantage/19497111/
5. https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent/human-origins/understanding-our-past/living-primates/the-grasping-hand
6. https://www.ruf.rice.edu/~kemmer/Evol/opposablethumb.html
7. https://magazine.scienceconnected.org/2015/01/oldest-primates-lived-trees/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CEarly%20primates%20were%20using%20this,ground%20couldn't%20reach.%E2%80%9D&text=The%20ability%20to%20live%20in,access%20to%20valuable%20food%20sources.
8. Almécija, S., Smaers, J. & Jungers, W. The evolution of human and ape hand proportions. Nat Commun 6, 7717 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms8717
9. Flatt A. E. (2002). Our thumbs. Proceedings(Baylor University. Medical Center), 15(4), 380–387. https://doi.org/10.1080/08998280.2002.11927870
10. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/28/world/opposable-thumb-human-evolution-study-scn/index.html
11. https://www.thestar.com/life/2012/05/07/body_parts_pinky_finger.html
12. MacDermid, J. C., Lee, A., Richards, R. S., & Roth, J. H. (2004). Individual finger strength: are the ulnar digits "powerful"?. Journal of hand therapy : official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists, 17(3), 364–367. https://doi.org/10.1197/j.jht.2004.04.006
13. https://www.lexisnexis.com/documents/pdf/20090727114916_large.pdf

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