• Question: is it true that we are growing a 6th finger

    Asked by anon-174893 to Yewande, Tim, Melanie, Hayley, Carl, Alex on 13 Jun 2018.
    • Photo: Alex Seeney

      Alex Seeney answered on 13 Jun 2018:

      There is a condition in humans called “polydactylism” (meaning “many fingers”), which results in more fingers/toes than usual. This is considered an anomaly though (i.e. something that doesn’t normally happen).

    • Photo: Yewande Oyekenu

      Yewande Oyekenu answered on 14 Jun 2018:

      Human beings belong to the Kingdom Animalia and their characteristics include having five fingers or toes in a word termed as Pentadactyl. (Penta means 5 and dactyl means digits).So having six fingers is an abnormal condition caused by exposure to chemicals or genes that are teratogenic (Capable of causing harm to the fetus).
      The Fetus is formed with complete 5 fingers, but abnormal growth can occur during the growth in the womb. Once a baby is born all fingers have been formed and there is no longer growth of another finger or toe.

    • Photo: Carl Barford

      Carl Barford answered on 14 Jun 2018:

      There are people who have a sixth digit. A very good friend delivered a baby with six perfect fingers, and her dad was the same. I had a work colleague called two thumbs for a very good reason

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