Is not having wisdom teeth evolve a form of evolution?

Answer 1

Yes, humanity is evolving in the direction of not having wisdom teeth. That is why fewer people have all their wisdom teeth these days than a thousand years ago. Our jaws have shrunk, in response to changes in the diet compared to our ancient ancestors. Some people have all their wisdom teeth, some have no wisdom teeth. I don't have any, my sister has three. It doesn't mean I am more "evolved" than her, it just shows that the human race is evolving/shifting in the direction of fewer/no wisdom teeth. The gene that expresses to produce wisdom teeth is either being suppressed, or removed from or gene pool. Eventually, enough people without wisdom teeth will reproduce, and wisdom teeth will become extremely rare, but this is a very, very long term process. Perhaps in 5,000 years wisdom teeth will be gone, but I wouldn't expect wisdom teeth to become rare for at least 1,000 years.

Oh, and ignore the guy above. He doesn't appear to get that evolution is adaptation, on the genetic level, and does not mean changing into an entirely new species. Nor does he understand the definition of a species as it pertains to biology and evolution. This IS a perfect example of evolution.

Answer 2

Yes. (Although it's incorrect to say that wisdom teeth "evolve" in an individual. Wisdom teeth just "grow".) There is genetic variation among our species as to whether an individual's wisdom teeth grow in or not. It is evidence that our jaw has been shrinking.

And to Icy U ... evolution *is* adaptation, and it may or may not involve creation of a new species. It's important to understand that the development of some different feature is (usually) *not* what creates a new species, as that is *not* what creates the geological isolation necessary to create a separate gene pool. Rather it is (usually) the isolation of a gene pool, by isolation of a population, that comes first, and allows new features to develop differently in the two populations. If this isolation is long enough, the two populations can lose the desire, and eventually the ability to interbreed ... voilá ... new species.

So the loss of wisdom teeth is not going to cause a new species ... but it's still evolution. I.e. doesn't *cause* evolution, it is a *result* of it.

Answer 3

No. It would be adaptation. It would only be evolution if we became a different species, and that would require a fundamental change in our DNA. My wife never formed wisdom teeth, but she is still human, and we even produced a child together, so no, she is not an evolved form of a human.

Answer 4

Yes, technically. Evolution is merely a change in genetic traits over time. So if fewer people have wisdom teeth due to genetics (which is what would cause "third molar agenesis," or the lack of having wisdom teeth grow), then yes, it's evolution.

Answer 5

Im not quite sure what you are asking. Some people dont get their wisdom teeth until they are much older, and supposedly wiser. That is why they are called wisdom teeth. You may not think you have them but they are there. An adult has 32 teeth. Your wisdom teeth are your 3rd molars.

Answer 6

Yes, but we have not evolved not to have wisdom teeth.

Answer 7

Absolutely. The same way we're losing our Appendix slowly. However, its not yet gone and won't be for probably another 5 to 10 thousand years. No hurry, that's still relatively fast in evolutionary terms.

Answer 8

"Not evolving" is a form of "evolving"? I'm sorry, it is difficult to understand your question.

Answer 9

thats stupid stop wasteing your time!!!