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\nWhy Do Humans Have Fingernails And Toenails?\n

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\n\nPublisher:\n\nScience ABC\n\n\n
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\nHuman fingernails are actually flattened versions of claws. All primates, including ancient ancestors of humans, had claws that supported their broad fingertips. The broad fingertips helped primates maintain a strong grip around objects,...\nHuman fingernails are actually flattened versions of claws. All primates, including ancient ancestors of humans, had claws that supported their broad fingertips. The broad fingertips helped primates maintain a strong grip around objects, including trunks and tree branches. Humans are distinct from other animals in many ways—cognitive capacity, hairlessness, and our opposable thumb—but having nails isn’t one of them. Our ancestors, primates, also have finger and toenails that look like ours. In fact, mammals, birds and reptiles have similar features at the ends of their appendages, such as claws and talons. These nails or claws or talons are made of a protein called keratin. This is the same protein that makes up your hair, the horns on cows and sheep, and the hooves of horses, zebras, bulls, and other ungulates.\n
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Resource Details

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Curator Rating
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Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
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Media Length
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3:37
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Grade
Pre-K - Higher Ed
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Subjects
Science
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Media Type
Instructional Videos
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Source:
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\nScienceABC\n\n
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Date
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2022
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Language
English
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Audiences
For Teacher Use
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Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
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Concepts

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injuries, animals, primates, trees, protein, hair, ears, pressure, years
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Additional Tags

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why do humans have nails, why do we have fingernails, why do we have nails, why do we have toenails, why do humans have toenails, what is the point of fingernails, what's the point of fingernails, why do we have fingernails and toenails, why do humans have fingernails, what is the purpose of fingernails, what is the purpose of toenails and fingernails, why do we need nails, purpose of fingernails, evolution of fingernails, why do we have toe nails, science, curiosity, broad fingertips, climbing trees, grooming claws, fuzzy, sensitivity, fingernails, finger, toenails, makes, grip, claws, nails, talons, made, transition, reason, branches, live, climb, tool, firm, object
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Classroom Considerations

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Best For: Explaining a topic
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