Wrinkling hands is a sign of evolution?

In the eyes of science, the wrinkling of skin when soaking in water for long time is not merely a physical phenomenon, but may be an adaptation to the environment from ancient times.

After a relaxing soak in the evening, or a refreshing shower in the pool, almost everyone has wrinkled skin. This happened so often that everyone assumed it was no big deal, but a recent discovery by American experts suggests this may be the remnant of a nesting adaptation. Human ancestors pass on to their descendants. The ultimate goal is to capture wet surfaces without falling.

Finger skin is often wrinkled in the case of long-term immersion - Photo: Flickr

The phenomenon of hand wrinkling was suggested by experts Mark Changizi and colleagues (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York) that the indentations on the surface of the fingers and legs act like special grooves on tires to help drain water. surface, anti-slip, increase the touch surface between human feet and hands with wet surfaces. More surprising is that this phenomenon is rooted in nerves. Previous research results show that individuals who suffer from nerve damage in their fingers often do not wrinkle their skin after long-term immersion. Through this finding, it can be concluded that the nervous system, not the surrounding environment, activates skin wrinkling. Although more research is needed in other primates, experts have determined that this phenomenon also occurs in monkeys.

In the past, many people mistakenly assumed that the fingers and toes absorbed the water in a way that was permeable. Currently, some experts believe that dead keratin cells have contributed to water absorption at the surface of the skin. They also consider the possibility of blood flow to this part of the body is limited, leading to wrinkles. However, no one has ever hypothesized the same group of experts Changizi, published in Nature News. Human studies and some non-primate species show that hand and foot wrinkles are a beneficial trait for humans. And a number of factors for the Changizi group to draw the conclusion are based on knowledge of archeology and fossil data. Specifically, studies suggest that human ancestors evolved from desert-like environments, then approached the aquatic environment in Africa, causing them to be put in danger as opposed to crocodiles.

Of course, it does not exclude the case that this phenomenon is inherited reluctantly in the natural selection process, but not the proof of the superiority of the race. The team of American experts did not mention the controversial theory of ' Water Apocrypha ' when making their claims.