Is the Thumb a Finger?
1. What Are Thumbs For?
It is thought by many evolutionary scientists that the thumb is one of the key developments that helped to make us the superior species on our planet. Why? The answer is simply that it allows us to hold onto things, and this allowed us to start using tools. We are not the only animal to have thumbs. Our closest relatives, and some other species, also have them, and many of these will also use tools. When combined with our superior brainpower, however, the ability to hold onto things and use tools helps us to manipulate our environment in ways that no other species can.
