• Question: Why do we have fingernails?

    Asked by teamupsonsolivia to Angela, Gopal, Hannah, Becky, Vince on 20 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Hannah Little

      Hannah Little answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      Nails likely evolved from claws in other animals. They are still useful because they protect the tips of our fingers and are also very useful for things like peeling fruit, undoing knots and even things like picking nits out of your hair.

    • Photo: Rebecca Cook

      Rebecca Cook answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      Interestingly, if you lose you fingernails you nail bed actually gets tougher so fingernails aren’t essential to protect the tip of your fingers. They are very useful though, imagine having an itch and no fingernails to scratch it with!

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