More than 150 years ago, Charles Darwin described certain human body structures as vestigial organs, viewing them as useless and poorly developed in comparison to those found in our ape-like ancestors. Examples he gave included the appendix, tonsils, wisdom teeth, thyroid gland, tailbone, goosebumps, and the ear muscles that allow some people to move their ears.
Do they serve a purpose?
Many popular books and magazines continue to assert that vestigial organs serve no real purpose. Advocates of evolutionary theory argue that these structures once fulfilled specific functions in our evolutionary past, and that their presence in humans today represents a residual form of those original roles.
One of the most frequently cited examples is the human appendix. Until recently, most secular scientists claimed that the appendix was once larger and played a role in digesting plant fibre, as it does in rabbits. Because the human appendix is smaller than that of great apes and proportionally smaller than in various other animals, it was assumed to have lost much of its original function. More recent research, however, suggests that the appendix still performs a significant role in the human body.
Modern medical studies have shown that each of these vestigial organs serves a significant function. Jerry Bergman’s book Vestigial Organs Are Fully Functional documents the roles of most of these structures.1 Nevertheless, some biology textbooks continue to claim that humans possess many such organs. Even the Encyclopaedia Britannica states that the human body contains over a hundred vestigial organs.2
Consequences of misunderstanding
The belief that certain human organs are useless has led to harmful outcomes in the past. One example is the tonsils. These organs play a defensive role, helping to detect bacteria and produce antibodies, which support the body in fighting infections and allergens.
In the 1930s, more than half of all children underwent tonsil removal. A major reason was the medical belief at the time that tonsils were unnecessary and could cause problems later in life. It was considered better to remove them while the child was still young. However, once researchers discovered their role in immune defence, the number of surgeries dropped significantly. Today, the main reason for tonsillectomy is sleep-related breathing disorders, with severe infections being a less common cause.
Do vestigial organs prove evolution? It seems, rather, that they may not exist at all.
According to some evolutionists…
Even within the secular scientific community, there are those who argue that vestigial organs should no longer be used as evidence for evolution. For example, evolutionist S.R. Scadding, after conducting research on the subject, reached the following conclusion:
‘Since it is not possible to unequivocally identify useless structures, and the structure of the argument is not scientifically justified, I conclude that ‘vestigial organs’ provide no special evidence for the theory of evolution.’3
Yet vestigial organs are still presented as evidence for evolution.
Conclusion
The idea of evolutionary vestigial organs appears to be unfounded, largely speculative, and not representative of sound scientific reasoning.
By the way, we recommend reading the articles:
- Comets, the Oort Cloud, and the Age of the Solar System
- Bird Intelligence: Chance or Design?
- Abiogenesis: Could Life Have Arisen from Non-Living Matter
- The Syrinx: The Secret Behind Birds’ Songs
- Did Dinosaurs Coexist with Humans?
Footnotes
- Bergman, J., 1990. Vestigial Organs Are Fully Functional. Terre Haute, IN: Creation Research Society Books.
- Rogers, K., n.d. 7 Vestigial Features of the Human Body. Encyclopedia Britannica.
- Scadding, S. R., 1981. Do Vestigial Organs Provide Evidence for Evolution? Evolutionary Theory, 5, p. 173. Available at: https://answersingenesis.org/human-body/vestigial-organs/vestigial-organs-evidence-for-evolution/#fn_18.
Adapted from: J. Bergman, Do ‘useless’ organs prove humans evolved?, Acts & Facts, Institute for Creation Research, April 2018, p. 20.
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