io9
Humans, birds, and other creatures share a set of genes that lead to the development of fingers and other digits (like paws or wings), but the way those digits form has been a mystery. Now a group of researchers in Wisconsin have discovered the secret of digit growth, and perhaps the key to regrowing severed or stunted fingers. It's even possible this research would allow you to grow an extra finger or two. This might make working with your hands easier, or lead to strange biopunk fashions that involve fingers sprouting from your head.
The best part is that one of the genes involved in finger-creation is called Sonic Hedgehog:
The UW-Madison team showed that growth begins in a portion of the developing digit they have named the phalanx-forming region (PFR). They illustrated that phalanges, structures that later become finger or toe bones, arise not from cartilage cells but from mesenchymal cells. And they discovered that a complex array of signals from a variety of genes at different times combine to form each phalanx.If we can learn to stimulate mesenchyme cells, we could promote the growth of new digits. No word on whether we can actually get human mesenchyme cells to grow wings or claws. Image via Marginalrevolution.Though the research was done on chick digits, it may have implications for humans born with a genetic condition known as bradydactyly, or stubby fingers and toes. The work was undertaken in the laboratory of John Fallon, the Harland Winfield Mossman Professor of Anatomy at the SMPH, who for years has sought to understand how cell fate is determined and patterning-of digits, teeth and feathers-is achieved during embryonic development.
In birds and mammals, digits arise in the mitten-shaped autopod, or developing foot, which consists of two alternating regions. The digital rays, made up of cartilage and mesenchyme, become the phalanges in the adult chicken's toes. These alternate with the interdigits, also consisting of mesenchymal tissue, which fill the space between the digit rays and eventually regress.
Scientists know that the gene Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) plays an important role in determining the form and number of digits, and many believe that other secondary signaling centers downstream of SHH also are involved in establishing a particular digit's identity . . . Sean Hasso, Fallon's current graduate student, wanted to know precisely which cells in the digital ray give rise to phalanges and which molecular events determine the number, size and shape of each phalanx. Performing microsurgery and cell marking studies on the embryonic chick autopod, Hasso showed that the cells that eventually form phalanges arise from the growth of mesenchyme at the tip of the digital ray.
Wisconsin Researchers Describe How Digits Grow [Eurekalert]
Comments
You'd think they would've called it Knuckles.
Bionic eyes on Gizmodo, neurogenisis yesterday, and now this. It's a good time to want to be a better human.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Gattaca was the most prescient science fiction movie of the last 20 years. Case in point.
Normally I'm with you Annalee, but the best part of the story is not the Sonic the Hedgehog reference. It's absolutely the story itself - the fact that we could grow extra fingers.
Personally, I want a second opposable thumb, opposite my current thumb.
dats fer me.
I dun shoot off cuple of toes when I was shootin at a opossum
my aunt told me not be shootin critters when they so close but I never listened.
All I got to do now to remeber not to shoot at stuff that's too close is just look at the big hole in my boot.
Extra fingers and toes are funky, you don't always notice them right away but you just get a feeling that something is off with the person. I've seen maybe 6-7 people since I've been doing Xray with extra digits and from what I hear they can really hurt sometimes.
but let me know when geneticist can add to more upper appendages. Genetically grown wings are far more appealing then an extra finger to jam during basketball or slam in a door.
@extracrispy: I say Transmetropolitan is more accurate.
So this could produce people who are literally all thumbs?
Another thumb might be useful -- and back in my Emacs days, another pinky.
Opposable big toes, like apes have, would be nice.
But there's always the risk of creating someone who'd kill Inigo Montoya's dad.
@92BuickLeSabre: Opposed opposable thumbs would be sweet...but I'd rather have those wings and claws Annalee mentioned.
My name is Neigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die.
@B: My name is Wolfgang Paoli, and I just finished my paper on the hexagonal state of quantum numbers--call Dan Brown!
Extra Fingers! The only thing I want more than extra fingers is that mod from Ghost in the Shell where your fingers split into like twenty different digits and you type on a computer extra fast.
Still, extra fingers is definitely a step in the right direction.
Hot damn! Now I can play Through the Fire and the Flames on expert in Guitar Hero 3!
Okay, so how does this NOT go horribly awry? I mean it's all well and good at first, you can wear more rings, you can diddle your gf (or yourself) a little faster, and you can actually use the original xbox controller, but what happens when they just DON'T STOP GROWING?
Finger Man? Centipede man? Horribly disfigured oh-jesus-christ-in-heaven-that-man-has-fingers-growing-out-of-his-fucking-face Man?
I would definitely want another thumb opposite my normal one, as well as another finger. I'm holding out for when they can make one of my fingers a tentacle (preferably the middle one).
as far as claws go, wouldn't modifying the fingernails be the best source for those?
Other body-mods I want: The ability to grow horns if I wanted, and octopus-like color/texture changing skin. I'm still waiting, you 'scientists'.
@Byronotron: Hey, I liked the Duke controller -- better than the Controller S, in fact.
@Bob_of_Mars: It would involve, at the very least, altering the cuticle of the nail to produce a harder keratin in a layered, pointed shape; and adding extra ligaments to the finger.
please don't joke about punks growing fingers out of their foreheads - have you seen the Atlas of Creation? They claim that evolution can't be real, because if it was, we'd have mutations like that all the time. (Insert Charlie Brown Face) AUGHHH.
Fingers, schmingers. I want an extra set of arms! Many's the time I've thought "I could really use an extra hand right now".
Does anyone remember that F&SF story (eventually turned into a short movie?) about a guy who has a single, multi-jointed finger growing out of his bathroom sink?
Spooky and unpleasant!
So, I was having a drunken Vegas weekend with a friend and some of his friends. And one of the friends-of-a-friend worked in pediatrics and I started grilling him about what happens if you don't lop off the extra appendages.
Because I figured that they were saving the kids from getting teased... at the expense of preventing the world from having a six-fingered person with mad crazy guitar or piano skills. I was disappointed to find that they aren't going to be particularly useful if they were allowed to stay.
And just when I was starting to get good at mumbletypeg.
@VoxExMachina:
Exactly!
Soon, the Morality Police will require everyone to have six fingers, so noboby will be able to give anyone 'the finger'.
Actually, the digit regrowth thing sounds dang useful.
-Kle.
@Klebert: We'll all just do it like the Brits do.
Where there is a will...
What man with a receding hairline wouldn't spend the money on a implanted scalp fingers?
@Rhainor: Ok, changing the cuticle I understand, but adding ligaments? What would those be for, retractable claws? We wouldn't [i]have[/i] to have retractable claws.
Suddenly reminded of the SNL commercial for Handi-Off: [snltranscripts.jt.org]
As long as they don't use lizard DNA, sounds good to me.
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