(BBC) Hands are made for punching

[Wastelander]

As I mentioned, I am not an evolutionary biologist. That said, the martial artist/university scientist I mentioned DOES happen to be an evolutionary biologist. He also happens to believe that most scientists, let along the general public, do not understand how evolution works. I'm not really qualified to argue for him, but this whole mess caused him to write up his own response. For those who would like to read the counter-argument, here is the link:

http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2012/12/another-just-so-story-this-time-about-fists/

[DoctorQui]

What a sily report! Hands obviously developed with opposable thumbs after our alien overlords landed in their spaceship millions of years ago and introduced them to the natives!!

[DWx]

As I mentioned, I am not an evolutionary biologist. That said, the martial artist/university scientist I mentioned DOES happen to be an evolutionary biologist. He also happens to believe that most scientists, let along the general public, do not understand how evolution works. I'm not really qualified to argue for him, but this whole mess caused him to write up his own response. For those who would like to read the counter-argument, here is the link:

http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2012/12/another-just-so-story-this-time-about-fists/

Thanks for getting his analysis up. Informative read and certainly explains more.

TBH I read the paper as suggesting that the ability to make a fist was an added advantage to shape that developed and not a primary cause for it's development which seems to be in agreement with your friend.

At any rate, it is interesting to think that formation of a fist is almost universal across martial arts styles.

[MasterPain]

What a sily report! Hands obviously developed with opposable thumbs after our alien overlords landed in their spaceship millions of years ago and introduced them to the natives!!

That makes as much sense as a lot of things people think.

[JusticeZero]

http://www.genomicron.evolverzone.com/2012/12/another-just-so-story-this-time-about-fists/

That was pretty much my thoughts on the matter too, but I still found the article to have some interesting stuff in it. Didn't find the conclusion compelling, but the material in the argument was kind've cool, and it makes for a good read.