Thumbs Are the New Fingers for GameBoy Youth

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..."

Comments

Not a mutation

[Jonathan]

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.

Re:Not a mutation

[bloggins02]

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?

Hmm, I have mutated too?

[Wizard of OS]

In her research, Plant noticed that while those less used to mobile phones used one or several fingers to access the keypad, younger people used both thumbs ambidextrously, barely looking at the keys as they made rapid entries.

If I play a musical instrument then I don't look at my fingers anymore (either when playing the piano or guitar), does that mean that I have mutated in a musick playing monster? ;-)

I think the author mixed 'learning' with 'mutating'

Re:Hmm, I have mutated too?

[rde]

does that mean that I have mutated in a musick playing monster?
Only if you play the accordion.

Re:This questions the old ideas about evolution

[shyster]

Evolution (as in "altering of physical form of whole populations of individuals due to external factors") seems much more likely to happen over a few generations. The "old school" is teaching us that evolution is happening only on course of hundeds or thousands of generations. This may not be the case actually.

It's not evolution! It's common sense! Use your thumbs more, and they'll become stonger, more flexible, and more dexterous. Not evolution, muscles.

exciting new research!

[xonos]

HEADLINE: People who use their thumbs more are able to use their thumbs better! Scientists are baffeled because of the "geek" tie in. There might be link between this and runners who run alot can run better. News at 11.

So, to sum it up...

[YouAreFatMan]

...people who use their thumbs more often have better coordination with their thumbs.

Can anyone say "slow news day" ?

Tomorrow on slashdot:
"People who type a lot don't even have to look at the keys"
"Study discovers that engineers better at factoring quadratic equations than grocery clerks"
"Musicians who practice more often are better musicians"

Shoulder buttons did it to me

[evilned]

Back in the NES days I would use my index and middle fingers for the b and a buttons, the genesis controller was designed so I could do the same. But once shoulder buttons started to be on all controllers, from the SNES onwards, I couldnt pull that off. Now that the GBA has shoulder buttons, I cant think of a game system that you can reasonably use all the buttons with out using your thumb as the main button presser

Uh no...

[kypper]

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.

stigmata

[llamalicious]

Thank god someone finally went public with this.
For years now, I've noticed myself using my thumbs for everything: opening doors, eating, picking things up, and almost everything I use my hands for.
I've hid my hands in shame for so long now, thinking I was a freak. At least now I can take the mittens off... ~sniff~