Some individuals are born with six fingers due to polydactyly, a developmental error in the formation of the limbs during pregnancy.
Development:
In the early stages of pregnancy, a baby’s hands and feet begin as flat paddles that gradually form into distinct fingers and toes. If this development process extends beyond the usual timeframe, a single finger may split, resulting in an additional one.
Causes:
Polydactyly can be caused by several factors, including:
- Genetics: It may be inherited and run in families.
- Spontaneous occurrence: Sometimes, it arises without any known genetic link.
- Medical syndromes: It can also be linked to conditions like McKusick-Kaufman syndrome, Pallister-Hall syndrome, and Bardet-Biedl syndrome.