Recently, paleontologists have discovered a connection between fish fins and human hands, further confirming our evolutionary origins from fish.
For a long time, the story of humans evolving from fish has been a hot topic among paleontologists. However, discussions remained speculative as studies and experiments could not prove the similarities between the anatomical structures of humans and fish.
Is this evolutionary process real?
A turning point came when researchers from the University of Chicago found an answer. They discovered a remarkable similarity in the genetic code between fish fins and human hands.
Specifically, when comparing the genes in the fins of the Northern Spotted Gar with the wrist genes of four-legged animals, scientists found an astonishing similarity. Even when the gene set of this fish was implanted into the limbs of laboratory mice, they functioned as though the mice and fish were one.
Northern Spotted Gar
Dr. Neil Shubin and Professor Robert R. Bensley from the University of Chicago stated: “This analysis clearly shows that humans have origins in aquatic life.” It is highly likely that hundreds of millions of years ago, fish evolved into four-legged animals that eventually stood upright on two legs, becoming the humans we are today.
They also noted that previous research had hit a dead end because the subjects of study were not accurate. At that time, experts conducted experiments on Teleosts – a group of fish that includes most of the common fish species today.
Previous studies on fish fossils primarily hit dead ends
However, 300 million years ago, the gene pool of the Teleost group doubled during the evolutionary process. As a result, many different gene combinations formed as we see today. Therefore, when comparing to the genes in human hands, it is nearly impossible to find similarities. While the human wrist consists of a series of small interconnected bones, the bones in the fins of Teleosts are straight and have small rounded ends at the tip, called radials.
In contrast, the Northern Spotted Gar did not undergo the gene doubling process, thus retaining genetic similarities with ancestral fish.
