Just nine fascinating things humans have left over from our ancient ancestors
We may feel pretty modern, walking about with our phones that are also computers and cameras, but we’re actually carrying around a load of evolutionary baggage – characteristics that would have been useful to our ape-like ancestors, but do very little for us now. Evolutionary anthropologist, Dorsa Amir, has explained via a little Twitter thread what some of that baggage was for.
Did you know the human body is full of evolutionary leftovers that no longer serve a purpose? These are called vestigial structures and they’re fascinating. (1/8)
— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 15, 2019
1. Do you have this muscle in your wrist?
Put your hand flat on a surface and touch your pinky to your thumb. Do you see a raised band in your wrist? That there’s a vestigial muscle called the palmaris longus. It used to help you move around the trees. About 14% of us don't even have this muscle anymore. (2/8) pic.twitter.com/ZF3Ta91IGy
— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 15, 2019
2. We used to move our ears
Check out your ear. Do you see this little bump? That’s called Darwin’s tubercle. It used to help you move your ears around. Now that we have super-flexible necks, we don’t need these anymore. (3/8) pic.twitter.com/2OlVWEu6gT
— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 15, 2019
3. The remains of a tail
Here’s a more obvious one: the tailbone. This is the ghostly remainder of our lost tails, which were useful for balance & movement in trees. We still grow tails as embryos, but then attack and destroy them in the following weeks. Not the most efficient system. (4/8) pic.twitter.com/pmF2lCpnyT
— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 15, 2019
4. We once had three eyelids
Ever wonder what this little pink thing in your eye is? This is the plica semilunaris. It used to be a third eyelid that would blink horizontally. You can see this in action in the eyes of many other animals. (5/8) pic.twitter.com/0ubMulahA0
— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 15, 2019
5. There’s a reason for goosebumps
Oh, and you know how you sometimes get goosebumps when you’re cold or scared? That’s a vestigial reflex that used to raise body hair to make you appear bigger or trap an extra layer of heat for warmth. Some people can actually do this on purpose. (6/8) pic.twitter.com/uY2zJddguy
— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 15, 2019
6. Baby humans used to cling to their parents like chimps do
Another cool reflex is the palmar grasp reflex. If you place your finger on an infant’s palm (or feet!), they will try to grasp it. Ancestral primate babies would have used this to grasp on to their parents for transport. (7/8) pic.twitter.com/LFpN1ykSug
— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 15, 2019
7, 8 and 9 – Wisdom teeth, appendix and male nipples – The worst firm of solicitors ever
A few addendums:
Wisdom teeth — yes, though still ~functional for original purpose.
Appendix — potentially yes, though it still seems to do stuff (may have been repurposed).
Male nipples — though technically non-functional, not quite vestigial. Due to embryonic development.
— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 16, 2019
These are just a few pieces of evolutionary baggage handed down to you from your primate ancestors, among others. Your body is basically a natural history museum! (8/8)
— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 15, 2019
Someone had a question for her.
Is President Trump the first person to have a vestigial brain?
— Wrenfoe ℹ (@Wrenfoe) January 16, 2019
We’ll let you know if there’s an answer.
