PULLMAN, Wash. – My claws can come in quite handy when I need to scratch my ears or climb trees. I bet you’ve found that your own fingernails can be useful tools, too. Perhaps you’ve used them to pick up a penny or peel an orange.
It turns out that while my claws and your fingernails look a little different, they are actually made out of the same thing: keratin.
That’s what I discovered when I went to visit my friend Professor Lisa Carloye, who teaches biology here at Washington State University.
Read all of this answer from Dr. Universe at https://askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2016/01/04/what-are-fingernails-made-of/.
A service of Washington State University, Ask Dr. Universe answers some of the most interesting, tough and smart questions from curious kids all around the world.
