My Thumb Makes Me Special

Take a look at your hands. Have you ever wondered why four of the fingers seem to be in one bunch, while the thumb is on its own? If you spread your fingers, four of them will point in one direction, while the thumb points another way.
The thumb that is opposite the other fingers, or digits, is a sign that humans are primates. Examples of other primates are tarsiers, lemurs, gibbons, aye-ayes, and macaques. It is because of the opposed thumb that primates can grasp objects. The opposed thumb has been very useful for primates. For example, monkeys are able to climb trees or swing from branches because of this special digit. This finger also makes it easy for primates to bring food to their mouth.
The opposed thumb has made humans a special set of primates. It is what sets humans apart from animals.Our thumb makes us special to all organisms.
With this special finger, early humans like the Neanderthals, or the Old Stone Age People, were able to make tools to make life easier.
They were able to make tools for hunting, cooking and fishing. They had axes, cleavers, knives, spears and even needles made out of stone, wood, or animal bone. They were able to make clothes out of animal skin because of their stone tools.
As time passed, ancient humans made better tools. They were able to make thinner and thinner weapons from stone. They invented finer weapons like wooden arrows and bone fishhooks. Later on, humans were able to make other tools and gadgets like spoons, sickles, and bowls and pots made up of clay. As more time passed, metal tools replaced the stone ones. Human also made more and more inventions such as the wheel, which led to carts and wagons. Itinerant became easy and humans were able to reach farther and farther places.
Because they had tools, early humans eventually learned how to farm. Once they learned farming, they no longer had to go from one place to another to find food. They were able to choose a place to live in and plant crops there. This was the start of villages, which grew and grew until they became cities. Humans began building bigger and stronger homes. Later on, they built temples, palaces, and other huge buildings.
Man’s special finger also allowed him to write and draw figures. From the cave paintings of animals made by their ancestors, human beings can now make beautiful paintings and sculptures. From writing with simple tools, humans now use all sorts of pencils and pens. Today, modern humans write with typewriters and computers.
Because of the special thumb, humans have really come a long way. It has set us so far apart from other animals. Who among the early humans could have thought that because of the thumb, we would even be able to travel away from Earth to the moon and other planets? Maybe, because of this thumb, we would able to send not just machines but human beings farther into outer space one day.