Random FAQOakland Art
Latest FAQ View All Facts View Images View Maps
Search Thru Facts

Hiccups: The Amphibious Past

Welcome to randomFAQ! Our Random Fact generator will add another random fact or frequently asked question from our massive database every day. Using the HTML code provided on the right side of each page, you can display a specific or random FAQ, or the latest fact of the day, on your website, blog, or MySpace profile. Just choose which fact to display, and any color to match your site. Please enjoy the unlimited use of this free service!

Fact of the Day  

 

More Information  

For ages people have wondered why it is that they hiccup. University of Chicago Professor Neil Shubin published a book on his theory of why. In his discoveries he has recently come across Tiktaalik, or simply "the missing link." This animal is an example of a "fishapod" meaning part fish and part land animal. This would be considered our earliest known land-dwelling ancestor. In studying the fossils, scientists are figuring out many of the traits we still have in common with this early stage of evolution.
Aside from many other interesting similarities between humans and Tiktaalik, hiccuping is now better explained because of this. Back when we had gills, the brain would need to send a signal when it wanted to switch from lungs to gills. A hiccup technically closes the lungs so that the now hypothetical gills could start working and now flood water into the lungs. This entire brains stem function is inherited from the fishapod and earlier.

Flam, Faye. "Hiccups, hernias and flatulence — some intelligent design - National." The Age - Business News, World News & Breaking News in Australia - theage.com.au. 10 May 2008. 30 Nov. 2008 .

Madrigal, Alexis. "The Best Cure for Hiccups: Remind Your Brain You're Not a Fish | Wired Science from Wired.com." Wired Blogs. 25 Feb. 2008. 30 Nov. 2008 .

McKie, Robin. "Review: Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin | Books | The Observer." The Guardian | guardian.co.uk. 10 Feb. 2008. 1 Dec. 2008 .

Randerson, James. "Tadpoles take blame for human hiccups." Science news and science jobs from New Scientist. 5 Feb. 2003. 30 Nov. 2008 .

 

Fact of the Day, "Blue-Eyed Family"

Random Facts:

View All Facts

View Images

View Maps

Blog

Get randomFAQs on your page!
Choose your options and copy and paste the code generated below onto your website, blog, or MySpace profile:
Random FAQ
Display Fact  
Random FAQ
Color    pick | random ]
Random FAQ

Oakland Art

Random FAQComments or Suggestions?
Random FAQIf you have any questions, comments, or
Random FAQsuggestions, please direct them to John at:

john@randomFAQ.com


Spread the word. Print these promotional flyers and pass them around or hang them up:


Copyright © 1999 - 2024 Pittsburgh Web Design by Websomniac, Corp. All rights reserved.