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Scientists Make Fish Grow "Hands" In Experiment Revealing How Fins Became Limbs

Posted by samzenpus on from the hands-to-hold-you dept.

An anonymous reader writes "While fossils have long shown that limbs evolved from fins, scientists have shown live in the laboratory how the transition may have happened. Researchers said that the new study published in the journal Developmental Cell offers evidence revealing that the development of hands and feet occurred through the acquisition of new DNA elements capable of activating specific genes."

5 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. Now if only... by Genda · · Score: 5, Funny

    The scientist would give them noses, they'd have something to do on those interminable waits between feedings.

    1. Re:Now if only... by DigitalReverend · · Score: 5, Funny

      I hope not, there's nothing worse than fish that smell.

      --
      I read Slashdot for the headlines, because the headlines, unlike the articles, are usually original and never duplicated
  2. All you need to know by GODISNOWHERE · · Score: 5, Informative
    From TFA:

    "Of course, we haven't been able to grow hands," Casares told New Scientists

    1. Re:All you need to know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Slashdot: Scientists make fish grow hands!

      Scientists: No we didn't...

    2. Re:All you need to know by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Title of the FA:

      Scientists Make Fish Grow "Hands" in Experiment That May Reveal How Fins Became Limbs

      Next line in the FA, synopsis:

      Scientists have successfully made fish grow "hands" instead of fins in an experiment that may reveal how animals transitioned to living on land instead of only in water.

      First line of the actual article:

      Scientists have successfully made fish grow "hands" instead of fins in an experiment that may reveal how animals transitioned to living on land instead of only in water.

      and near the end of the article, the line of the OP:

      "Of course, we haven't been able to grow hands," Casares told New Scientists

      So it's not Slashdot, it's scientific journalists (or maybe just MedicalDaily, but it's so convenient to say just "Scientists" or "Scientific journalists" to make you think that scientists form an hivemind) who take everyone for bloody idiots. Really pitiful...