Bad Design in the Panda's Thumb?
A new study analyzed the giant panda's thumb using computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and related techniques. Contrary to what evolutionists have previously expressed about the "bad design," the current study shows that the radial sesamoid bone (its "thumb") is "one of the most extraordinary manipulation systems" among mammals.2
The radial sesamoid bone functions as an active manipulator, enabling the Panda to grasp bamboo stems between the bone and the opposing palm. Contrary to previously published studies, a computerized analysis of the three-dimensional images indicate that the radial sesamoid bone does not move independently of its articulated bones, but acts as part of a functional unit of manipulation. The radial sesamoid bone and the accessory carpal bone form a double pincer-like apparatus enabling the panda to manipulate objects with great dexterity.
The metacarpals, radial sesamoid and radial carpal bones function as a unit to grasp objects. The accessory carpal acts as an additional "finger" when the hand grasps food. The abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis, and abductor digiti quinti muscles further serve in grasping when contracted during grasping.
Evolutionists say that the design of the Panda's thumb is bad compared to that of the primate opposable thumb. However, the opposable thumb is not designed for continuous grasping. Such kind of usage can result in carpal tunnel syndrome (just ask any laboratory technician who has been pipetting for many years). Being a herbivore, the Giant Panda spends nearly all of its waking hours eating. It collects bamboo leaves by grasping and stripping leaves from the stalks. Contrary to what the evolutionists say, the opposable thumb would be a bad design for the Panda, since it could not function under the stress of continuous use. The Panda's hand, with its "thumb" bound to the metacarpals, is a much stronger design able to withstand continuous use.
The authors concluded their study with the following statement:
"We have shown that the hand of the giant panda has a much more refined grasping mechanism than has been suggested in previous morphological models."
2. Endo, H., Yamagiwa, D., Hayashi, Y. H., Koie, H., Yamaya, Y., and Kimura, J. 1999. Nature 397: 309-310.
R. Deem
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This must be the further investigation of the Pandas' thumb mentioned earlier. Another example of jumping to conclusions without considering intelligence and design.
