Fingernails

Nailed It: The Evolutionary Purpose of Fingernails

It’s time to give your fingers a round of applause for growing such useful little shelves. Fingernails may seem like insignificant accessories, but they actually play a crucial role in our evolution. From protecting our fingertips to helping us grasp objects, fingernails have come a long way since our primate ancestors first developed them. So let’s take a closer look at the science behind these tiny but mighty appendages.