Final answer:
The main differences between ape and human hands and wrists lie in the adaptability for arboreal life and bipedalism, respectively; the latter facilitates more precise grip and tool use capabilities in humans.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hands and wrists of apes and humans demonstrate several differences that reflect their distinct evolutionary adaptations. Apes possess opposable thumbs and, in many cases, opposable big toes. These features are central to primates for activities like climbing and brachiation (swinging from trees), due to their arboreal heritage. This heritage also results in adaptations including a rotating shoulder joint and a big toe that is widely separated from other toes (except in humans). Humans, while still retaining these primate traits, show adaptations associated with bipedalism. The human thumb is longer and more robust compared to that of apes, allowing for a more precise grip. Human hands show a lesser degree of curvature in the fingers, making them less suited for climbing but better for manipulation and tool use. Additionally, the wrist bones are arranged to support a wide range of motion necessary for varied tasks, including the unique human capacity for fine motor skills. These anatomical differences are indeed evidence of evolution, showcasing how varying environmental pressures can carve distinct paths for closely related species. While the hands of non-human primates like gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos are more adapted for an arboreal lifestyle, the human hand has developed features advantageous for tool use, sophisticated gestures, and technological manipulation.