Creationists: Vestigial structures, how do you explain them?

Question

Vestigial structures are anatomy anatomical structures of organisms in a species which are considered to have lost much or all of their original function through evolution. These structures are typically in a degenerate, atrophied, or rudimentary condition or form. Vestigial structures are often referred to as vestigial organs, though not all of them are actually organs.

God created us perfect, and in his image? Then why do humans have imperfections, here is a couple:

The vermiform appendix is a vestige of the cecum, an organ that was used to digest cellulose by humans' herbivorous ancestors. Analogous organs in other animals similar to humans continue to perform that function, whereas other meat-eating animals may have similarly diminished appendices. The modern functionality of the appendix is still controversial in the field of human physiology, although most scientists and physicians believe that it has little or no function.

The plica semilunaris is small fold of tissue on the inside corner of the eye. It is the vestigial remnant of the nictitating membrane (the "third eyelid") which is present in other animals.

Wisdom teeth are vestigial third molars that humans' ancestors used to help in grinding down plant tissue. It has been proven that the skulls of human ancestors had larger jaws with more teeth, which were probably used to help chew down foliage to compensate for a lack of ability to efficiently digest the cellulose that makes up a plant cell wall. As humankind's diet changed, a smaller jaw was selected for by evolution, but the third molars, or "wisdom teeth", still commonly grow in.

There are also vestigial molecular structures in humans, which are no longer in use but may indicate common ancestry with other species. One example of this is L-gulono-gamma-lactone oxidase, a gene, found functional in most other mammals, which produces a Vitamin C-catalyzing enzyme.

In humans, an earlier mutation may have caused it to become disabled (unable to produce the enzyme), and it now remains in the human genome only as a vestigial genetic sequence

Rebuttal to Rick:

Why do some medical sources question the vestigiality of the appendix?
The reasons for this are multiple, but they largely stem from the simple fact that most physicians are not trained in evolutionary biology. The erroneous "completely nonfunctional" definition of a vestige is primarily found in medical papers, textbooks, and dictionaries (e.g. Williams and Myers 1994, p. ix). Using this incorrect and nonevolutionary definition, it is logical to conclude that a structure is not vestigial if its function is discovered. For instance, based upon this incorrect definition, Williams and Myers 1994 incorrectly argue that an evolutionary vestige cannot be both a complex and a "regressive" structure (p. 27). Similarly, a modern version of Gray's Anatomy confusingly implies that the appendix cannot be both vestigial and specialized (Williams and Warwick 1980).

A vestige can be a complex structure, in an absolute sense, while simultaneously being rudimentary or degenerate relative to the same homologous structure in other organisms.

Perhaps most important is the fact that a vestige can be identified only via comparative analysis. Physicians are experts on human anatomy and physiology, but rarely do discussions in medical publications consider phylogenetic and comparative issues. Medical articles that attempt to consider phylogenetics often provide a gross misconception of evolutionary fundamentals. For instance, the most thorough and in depth source on the physiology of the human appendix, Williams and Myers 1994, refers to how the appendix changes as "the primate scale is ascended" and to the "evolutionary scale" with humans at its end (pp. 26-27).
These are long-refuted orthogenetic concepts which have been contradicted by basic evolutionary theory since Darwin.

Answer 1

They don't. They ignore them. Kinda pointless to go through as much trouble as you did for that answer.

Answer 2

They tend to steer as far from this subject as possible...

Barring that they will try to find biblical quotes to take out of context, and they will make unsupported claims about how science is wrong, that evolution is "just a theory (well so is gravity)", that science keeps changing and therefore it's wrong (which is too stupid to bother countering), and so on. It doesn't matter that their arguments will be irrelevant to the data and argument you present, it's good enough to re-assure themselves.

There are always ways for the blindly faithful to rationalize reality to fit what they believe. They do it (often unknowingly) through their entire lives as most reality contradicts the bible... hell, the bible contradicts the bible.

Answer 3

Actually if you would do some research the appendix helps keep you alive for the first few years of your life. And the wisdom teeth we don't have room for them because we eat soft synthetic foods. People in the middle east, who eat raw foods don't have cavities, croweded teeth and plenty room for the wisdom teeth.

I don't know where you got your information but it is way outdated.

Answer 4

Beliefs and Interpretations of Evidence
Vestigial, Rudimentary, and Atavistic Structures21

Vestigial organs are structures now supposedly useless or unnecessary which were functional in imagined evolutionary ancestors. In the last century the German anatomist, Wiedersheim, claimed there were 180 such structures in the human body. Since that time, all but a handful of these structures have been proved to be functional. The classic example is the human appendix which allegedly has degenerated from an important organ in our hypothetical plant-eating ancestors to become a non-functional relic in modern humans. In recent years, however, it has been concluded that the appendix, rich in lymphoid tissue, serves to guard the body against infections, particularly in early years, being in this respect comparable to the tonsils and adenoid

Vestigial, Rudimentary, and Atavistic Structures21

Vestigial organs are structures now supposedly useless or unnecessary which were functional in imagined evolutionary ancestors. In the last century the German anatomist, Wiedersheim, claimed there were 180 such structures in the human body. Since that time, all but a handful of these structures have been proved to be functional. The classic example is the human appendix which allegedly has degenerated from an important organ in our hypothetical plant-eating ancestors to become a non-functional relic in modern humans. In recent years, however, it has been concluded that the appendix, rich in lymphoid tissue, serves to guard the body against infections, particularly in early years, being in this respect comparable to the tonsils and adenoids.

An example of rudimentary organs would be the rudimentary mammary glands is the human male. Charles Darwin made much of this supposed difficulty for believers in creation. One theory proposes that the males among our ancestors were able to nurse their young, but the notion is difficult to defend, for absolutely no supporting evidence exists. In the light of modern knowledge of genetics and embryonic development, the correct explanation is quite obvious and irrefutable. Although the male possesses in his chromosomal complement the genes for the female anatomical structures, the development of the male individual is controlled by the "X" sex chromosome to produce the normal male characters which include the non-functional rudimentary mammary glands. There is no difficulty whatever here for the creation viewpoint. Charles Darwin, having only the extremely limited knowledge of human genetics available in his time, thought he had in male rudimentary mammary glands a truly hard nut for believers in creation to crack. His argument has no merit today although it is still advanced by a few evolutionists who should know better.

Atavistic structures are supposed freak throwbacks to anatomical features possessed by hypothetical evolutionary ancestors. Occasionally a human baby is born with a tail-like appendage and this is said to be evidence that our ancestors had tails. Actually, such rare congenital deformities are usually a type of fatty tumor having no relationship to the tail of a monkey. Furthermore, the human coccyx or tail bone provide essential anchorage points for important muscles. Sadly, superficial knowledge has led to erroneous interpretation and even misrepresentation of the facts.

Answer 5

Stop it with the facts! you're undoing decades of brainwas----errr Bible study!

Answer 6

The Christians will be silent on this one.

Answer 7

they are just there to make you ask questions