Creation & EvolutionForum for the discussion of this important topic. This forum is open to non-believers. There is a Christians-only forum in the Christians-only section too.
The common Creationist straw man of vestigial characterists are that they are organs or structures that have lost all function, though they had function in progenator species. I just thought of a short list of simple things our bodies do that more accurately represent vestigial (diminished or changed function, not functionless) remains of our ancestral past.
- Prehensile toes. I, and I'm sure most people can pick things up between their toes. I have a bad back and try not to squat to save wear on my knees, so if I'm bare footed and need to pick something up, my feet do the work.
- Wiggling ears. I can wiggle my ears. We all are physically able to, but you just need to learn to flex the right muscles. This is a more ancient vestigial from prehensile toes going probably back to our Consestor with pro-simians or earlier.
- Flaring nostrils. Oddly enough, this one evidences Aquatic Ape theory as much as it does a functional vestige of times when our Consestors used their sense of smell and needed to open their nostrils wide and get as much scent in as possible.
- Goosebumps. I think everyone knows why we get these and how they're a vestige of when our ancestors had more body hair.
These seemingly inconsequential vestigial functions might not be as glamorous as the coccyx or appendix, but they point inevitably with the rest of the mountains of evidence, in favor of evolution and common ancestry.
__________________ (The Library of Alexandria) questioned the permanence of the stars, but did not question the justice of slavery - Carl Sagan in Cosmos
Don't forget that pink stuff in the corner of people's eyes (I don't know what it's called) - that's the vestige of a nictating membrane.
Totally OT, please forgive:
I wonder if we could artificially activate something to get that back, I was thinking over breakfast this morning, that I would really really like a nictating membrane. Especially the kind that seals have.
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Look at me still talking when there's science to do!
One question: Does hair count as vestigal, since it does not seem to do much except social functions, including sexual attraction?
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-- The Cherubic Hymn, Liturgy of St John Chrysostom --
One question: Does hair count as vestigal, since it does not seem to do much except social functions, including sexual attraction?
Head hair? Nah, I doubt it. A vestige is something that has lost its original function due to evolution, a vestige isn't necessarily non-functioning. Human hair still has the sane function as it did in human ancestors.
btw, I figured out what to call that pink thing is the corner of the eye. It's called plica semilunaris. \m/
__________________ Veritas omnia vincit.
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The common Creationist straw man of vestigial characterists are that they are organs or structures that have lost all function, though they had function in progenator species. I just thought of a short list of simple things our bodies do that more accurately represent vestigial (diminished or changed function, not functionless) remains of our ancestral past.
- Prehensile toes. I, and I'm sure most people can pick things up between their toes. I have a bad back and try not to squat to save wear on my knees, so if I'm bare footed and need to pick something up, my feet do the work.
- Wiggling ears. I can wiggle my ears. We all are physically able to, but you just need to learn to flex the right muscles. This is a more ancient vestigial from prehensile toes going probably back to our Consestor with pro-simians or earlier.
- Flaring nostrils. Oddly enough, this one evidences Aquatic Ape theory as much as it does a functional vestige of times when our Consestors used their sense of smell and needed to open their nostrils wide and get as much scent in as possible.
- Goosebumps. I think everyone knows why we get these and how they're a vestige of when our ancestors had more body hair.
These seemingly inconsequential vestigial functions might not be as glamorous as the coccyx or appendix, but they point inevitably with the rest of the mountains of evidence, in favor of evolution and common ancestry.
"Vestigial" functions, although extremely contoversial, do not prove or even help evolution's case. What's the problem with God using a similar design for humans and apes? We do not have transitional fossils that demonstrate these organs gradually becoming less useful, so therefore you have no case.
"Vestigial" functions, although extremely contoversial, do not prove or even help evolution's case. What's the problem with God using a similar design for humans and apes? We do not have transitional fossils that demonstrate these organs gradually becoming less useful, so therefore you have no case.
On the other hand, why would God create animals with useless organs that are very very similar to useFUL organs being used by very very similar animals?
Goose bumps are a good example.
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Look at me still talking when there's science to do!
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