Coming to Grips with How Primates Grasp: The Evolution of Our Hands

Scientists are getting a better grasp of primate grip. They've taken a closer look at how humans and gorillas hold objects and have learned a bit more about the superior grasping ability of primate species.

In this latest study, scientists used measurements of digits' segments. This allowed them to create a kinematic model of the thumb and index finger of the skeletons of living primates and the fossil remains of human ancestors. This is the first ever model of digit movement during precision grasping and manipulation in a broad sample of humans, non-human primates and fossil hominins.

"The model reveals that a long thumb or great joint mobility alone does not necessarily yield good precision manipulation," said Thomas Feix, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Compared to living primates, the human hand has the largest manipulation potential, in particular for small objects."

Manual dexterity is viewed as a key adaptation that separated the earliest primates from other early mammals. Scientists believe that these adaptations evolved in response to no longer needing hands for locomotion, as well as the mechanical demands of using tools.

However, there still remains debate about the gripping capabilities of early fossil hominins. This new study, though, reveals that early human species may have had greater dexterity than what was required for cutting with a stone, including manipulative and tool-related behaviors.

The findings reveal a bit more about precision gripping in primates. This, in turn, tells researchers a bit more about primate evolution.

The findings are published in the Journal of The royal Society Interface.

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).