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Biology/Ribs

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Expert: - 7/19/2005


Question
How many ribs does a human have?  My nephew had talked to his grandmother who is very religious and i think she might not have had the right answer.  She said boys have 16 and girls 15 from some reason related to a story in the bible.

rich

Answer
I am afraid that Grandma is wrong.  The normal human body has 24 ribs, twelve on each side. This is easy to prove.  Look at any skeleton or picture of one and count them.
 According to the book of genesis God took a rib from Adam to make Eve.  This is where the story of different ribs comes from.

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Walter Hintz

Expertise

Science teacher for over 50 years. MSc. in biology. I can answer questions in general biology, zoology, botany, anatomy and physiology and biochemistry.

Experience

I have a MSc in biology and have been a science teacher for over 50 years. At present I am a faculty member at a college and a science consultant at seven catholic schools.

Publications
The Ohio journal of Science
Momentum-The Journal of the Catholic Education Association

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