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Thumbs Are the New Fingers for GameBoy Youth

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the gamers-roll-an-18-dex dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Reuters is running an interesting story on how the use of gadgets such as mobile phones and GameBoys has caused a physical mutation in young people's hands. The use of the thumb is a deviation from the use of the index finger..."

3 of 383 comments (clear)

  1. Not a mutation by Jonathan · · Score: 5, Informative

    It is possible that the use of hand-held devices make one's own thumbs more dextrous, but that certainly doesn't cause a mutation, which is a genetic change. That would be Lamarkian inheritance of accquired characteristics. Both Slashdot and the article are using a completely incorrect term.

    1. Re:Not a mutation by bloggins02 · · Score: 5, Informative

      MODERATORS!!! Are you on crack? This is in no way "off-topic". The shift in allele frequencies to favor this trait through evolution would:

      a) not have happened yet, there hasn't been enough time

      b) not happen at all. How does scoring more points on your gameboy increase your reproductive fitness?

      Thus, the only way to posit that the latest generations have somehow developed a "mutation" which causes their thumbs to be more nimble is to invoke Lamarkism (which is primarily the view that acquired changes in the genetic code are inhereted by the next generation). This view has been refuted in so many ways it's not even funny, and for slashdot and the publication to use the word "mutation" clearly shows a lack of understanding of the fundamental processes of evolution.

      Why not try the more obvious approach: those people who have had to use their thumbs in more exacting roles tend to increase their skills in the use of their thumbs.

      Would you say it was a mutation that was causing all piano players to have more dextrous hands?

  2. Uh no... by kypper · · Score: 5, Informative

    Well, far be it for me, a biochemistry student, to argue with a dictionary that gives an overall definition of each word, but... you're wrong.
    Mutation is a genetic alteration at the cellular level; what these people are doing is training their bodies, in this case, their thumbs, in such a way that they have better control. You could technically paint with your toes as well (many people do it) but it's not a mutation.
    A mutation is a random alteration of one or more chromosomes in the nucleus of the cell resulting in different productions/responses.
    Nor is the parent of your comment correct, either; a mutation does NOT have to be in the germ line cells in order to be a mutation (in which case the mutation would be transmitted to offspring). Mutations can occur in standard mitotic cells and never be passed to offspring; Lemarkian inheritance has nothing to do with anything, but especially not with mitotic cells. I think we all know that a 'mutation' for the dexterity of the thumb is not occuring in the 'balls' of the 'gentlemen' who use technology and then father offspring.