this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2023
94 points (78.3% liked)

Showerthoughts

29728 readers
1447 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. Avoid politics
    • 3.1) NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
    • 3.2) Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
    • 3.3) Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
vatlark@lemmy.world
forkball@lemmy.world
quinten@lemmy.world
Thekingoflorda@lemmy.world
94
I just realized how incredible it is that we don't have toes growing out of our ears. (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by zovits@lemmy.world to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world
41 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

AFAIK it all boils down to the fact that during embryonal development our cells, which at that point were just a blob of undifferentiated autonomous chemical machines, somehow managed to unanimously agree upon the cardinal directions (up-down, left-right, front-back) for future development - and thanks to this, we don't have toes growing out of our ears.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] zovits@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sure, but every cell has the same DNA. Yet some "decide" to "agree" on making toenails, while others differentiate into eyes.

[โ€“] kale@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 year ago

If an embryo decides to split in two, and then sends out the marker that "this is the right side" and it's too close to the other embro, there will be a set of identical twins, but one will have the heart on the right side, appendix on the opposite side etc. This needs to be known if the "mirrored" person has a colonoscopy, since the colon is folded the opposite direction.