University:
Boston University
Course:
CAS BI 525 | Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Academic year:

2020
Views:

484

Pages:

1
Author:

Mya Lowe

Adaptation of the Human Hand Introduction: Living things have bodies that are adapted for the places they live and the things they do. Fish have gills so that they can remove oxygen that is dissolved in water. Most plants have green leaves which contain chlorophyll so that they can make food. Jellyfish have stinging cells to capture prey. Birds have hollow spongy bones so that they will be light enough to fly. Arctic animals have layers of fat and thick coats of fur to keep warm in the frigid Arctic climate. There are hundreds of examples of ways that organisms are adapted for a successful lifestyle. Humans, too, are adapted for the things they do. One of our adaptations is our hand. Humans, as well as monkeys, gorillas, and other primates, have a hand that can grasp objects. In this lab exercise, you will perform several common actions. Then you will change your hand so that it resembles that of a non-primate animal. You will determine whether or not you can successfully perform the same actions. This will demonstrate how the human hand is adapted for the actions it performs. You will work with a partner to do this exercise. Procedure: 1. Do each of the following activities and have your partner time how long it takes you to do each one. Record the times in the table. A. Tie a knot in a piece of string. B. Remove one shoe and replace it on your foot. C. Unscrew a bottle cap or jar cover. D. Unbutton four buttons and button them again. E. Open a door. F. Write your full name on a piece of paper. 2. Using masking tape, have your partner tightly tape each of your thumbs to the palm of the hand (do not waste tape). 3. After your thumbs are securely taped, try each of the activities listed in Procedure 1 again. Time each activity as you did before and record the time in the data chart. Questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Explain why dog and cat paws are not adapted for doing the six actions you tested. What are cat and dog paws adapted for? Describe how your hand is adapted for doing the actions you tested. You have an opposable thumb. Explain what you think this means. Why do you feel that human hand adaptations have helped to make humans such a successful species on earth? 6. Construct a bar graph comparing the time it takes to perform each task with and without your thumbs taped.