Scientist Talks About Evolutionary Leftovers We Have In Our Body And It’s Eye-opening

During our schooling days, we had learned about the many facets of our physiology and how we’ve transformed through the ages. However, for the last year or so, if your only source of knowledge about the evolution of mankind has been Indian politics, then you might (for lack of a better word) be a bit lost.

But don’t worry, because evolutionary anthropologist Dorsa Amir has touched upon both of those aspects in a nicely written Twitter thread.

Dorsa Amir has a Ph.D in Biological Anthropology from Yale, a B.S. in Anthropology from University of California, and is a Postdoc Researcher at Boston College (which basically means she’s legit). And she took to Twitter to shed some light on the various evolutionary leftovers in our body.

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

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

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

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

Understandably, there were questions. But Dorsa answered them in a palatable way.

Good question! In most cases, vestigiality is determined by comparing to related animals, considering what function those traits are serving for them, and whether they still serve the same function for us. Check out this woolly monkey to see what this grasp reflex is used for. pic.twitter.com/0JRgo0hZio

— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 15, 2019

Yes, true! Some vesitigal structures still have reduced function or have picked up new ones along the way. The appendix is a bit more complicated so I excluded it from the list.

— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 15, 2019

It may still work to a small degree, as some vestigial structures still serve a reduced role or have found new ways to be useful. Some are non-functional altogether. And some may actually be potentially harmful (i.e. our wisdom teeth or appendix).

— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 15, 2019

During weeks 4-6 of embryonic development, humans develop a small tail. During weeks 6-8, the embryo sends white blood cells to dissolve that tail in a process called phagocytosis.

— Dorsa Amir (@DorsaAmir) January 15, 2019

In addition to that, there were some fascinated and hilarious reactions.

I don't have those

— andreas (@andreas_omh) January 15, 2019

You forgot the tendency to believe tall and charismatic politicians who talk about national security crisis

— Ori Katz (@OriKatz3) January 15, 2019

So many startling facts on this thread! #Evolution #Sapiens https://t.co/fK0mDRokP1

— हात धोऔं, मास्क लगा‍औं (@indradhoj) January 16, 2019

Fookin ell https://t.co/vjWbr713LJ

— Stash Superman (@stash211) January 16, 2019

So, on a scale of 0-to-WTF, how eye-opening was Dorsa’s thread for you? Or are your theories more in line with Satyapal Singh’s? Let me know in the comments.