Having Six Fingers Is a Dominant Trait

Genetics are extremely complicated—so complicated that having an extra finger or toe, for example, is exceedingly rare despite it being caused by a dominant gene.

Hosted by: Olivia Gordon

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Sources:
Herding Hemingway’s Cats Understanding How Our Genes Work - Kat Arney
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Images:

[PositivelyUnpositive]

The amount of times 'sonic hedgehog' was said, was well beyond how many times I expected it to be.

[sherth]

the way she says sonic hedgehog so seriously this is actually hilarious

[urmorph]

Someone said to composer Arnold Schoenberg that his Violin Concerto would require a violinist with six fingers on his left hand. His reply was, "Very well, I can wait."

[YggyTheMighty]

These names are what happens when gamers become scientists.

[crystalsolis]

I had a friend in middle school who had six fingers, an extra on his thumb. He was a super unique and intelligent individual. He never looked at his extra finger as an anomaly or something to be ashamed of. Unfortunately, after middle school was done, on the first day of summer, he passed away from drowning along with my other friend he was spending time with at the time. I never moved on from that tragedy, I learned to live with it. And this video reminded me of them in a positive light. Thank you.

[minniem-ms]

Scientist about to name Sonic Hedgehog: ITS MY GENE DISCOVERY AND I GET TO NAME IT

[micahphilson]

How did she keep a straight face talking about too much Sonic Hedgehog in the wrong place?!
"A single mutation can be enough to send Sonic Hedgehog all out of whack."

[ViniSocramSaint]

"It only takes a single faulty copy of a gene to put some sonic hedgehog where it doesn't belong"


Interpret it at your own leisure

[jmanj]

So i learned today that sonic hedgehog is responsible for my extra pinky, so im 1/6 sonic hedgehog extra than normal. Explains why i can barrel roll so fast.

[Sciencerely]

One of the greatest (but also most frightening) things I have learned in university were mutations in genes which influence development. Defects in sonic hedgehog, for example, do not only cause polydactyly but also can lead to dramatic changes in the face. In very extreme cases, a condition called cyclopia can occur. It is wildly believed that this syndrom is the reason why the myth of cyclops was developed - maybe I'll make a video about that one day, it's a great story. Since I am a human biologist and researcher, feel free to ask me anything about that topic (or stem cells, , since I am conducting research in this field)!

[ahtyngtyng]

i couldn’t take this seriously because of “sonic hedgehog” xD

[TWX]

A friend of mine had a cat with seven digits on each front paw and six on each rear paw. Of course she named her cat, "Digitalis."
The cat basically had two opposable thumbs on each front paw, and was the closest to human-behaving with the paws I'd ever seen of any non-primate.

[afragilebird]

I had a hard time not laughing hearing “sonic hedgehog” over and over

[justinolson]

This is why I want to become a scientist. Make an important discovery and name it something absurd.

[reformedtrick]

I'm a Biologist and I just want to say well done on this video. You explained Shh very well

[TheFinktron]

When I taught high school anatomy I took my two cats into the classroom and told the students there was something very unusual about one of them. It took awhile for them to figure out that one forepaw of that cat had polydactyl and syndactyl, so the extra digit was fused to another one, giving the correct number of toes, with one being slightly wider.

[sandysmith]

I like how she says sonic hedgehog with a straight face

[uss_]

Having 6 fingers is also useful for establishing dominance in video games.

[igotyoulolz]

My friend David was born with a extra thumb on both hands and had them removed as a child. This was very informative and I can't wait to show him this.

[Starfals]

Even in a Sonic (from sega) related videos i haven't heard his name being spoken out so many times haha <3