Theists, why do we have an appendix?

Question

Really, if god created man, why did he create him with a useless organ? Even for some of you who accept evolution to some extent, surely you can't think that man evolved not to need the appendix in just a few thousand years. So it must have taken much much longer than that. Say, hundreds of thousands or millions of years. Do you have another reasonable explanation?

And please, no copy and paste scipture.

Abdul, that was disappointing. You didn't even try!

tebone - interesting, I had not heard that....your source?

tebone, I don't know your source but it appears to be rubbish....I've been having a look and all research I find states something along the lines of "The appendix is thought to have descended from an organ in our distant herbivorous ancestors called the cecum (or cæ***). The cecum is maintained in modern herbivores, where it houses the bacteria that digest cellulose, a chemically tough carbohydrate that these animals could not otherwise utilize. The human appendix contains no significant number of these bacteria, and cellulose is indigestible to humans. It seems likely that the appendix lost this function before human ancestors became recognizably human."

I found tebones source - a christian website. And the christians never ever twist anything to their own point of view, do they? Here's the source if you're interested....

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation/v20/i1/appendix.asp

all crap.

Answer 1

Mel, come on, baby... how can you even ask such a question? God created the appendix to keep some surgeons employed. He was thinking ahead. I can't believe you missed that in religion class.

Answer 2

the function of the appendix:

The mucosa and submucosa of the appendix are dominated by lymphoid nodules, and its primary function is as an organ of the lymphatic system.3
the appendix is recognized as a highly specialized organ with a rich blood supply. This is not what we would expect from a degenerate, useless structure.

The appendix contains a high concentration of lymphoid follicles. These are highly specialized structures which are a part of the immune system. The clue to the appendix’s function is found in its strategic position right where the small bowel meets the large bowel or colon. The colon is loaded with bacteria which are useful there, but which must be kept away from other areas such as the small bowel and the bloodstream.

Through the cells in these lymphoid follicles, and the antibodies they make , the appendix is ‘involved in the control of which essential bacteria come to reside in the caecum and colon in neonatal life’.6 Like the very important thymus gland in our chest, it is likely that the appendix plays its major role in early childhood. It is also probably involved in helping the body recognize early in life that certain foodstuffs, bacterially derived substances, and even some of the body’s own gut enzymes, need to be tolerated and not seen as ‘foreign’ substances needing attack.

We also have other organs that we really dont need but they serve a useful purpose. the gall bladder, tonsils

Answer 3

Well, you didn't say anything about non-scripture, so here goes:

"However, the importance of this alleged 'vestigial organ' [appendix] was being discussed in medical textbooks as long ago as 1976. As one scientist admitted: 'The appendix is not generally credited with significant function; however, current evidence tends to involve it in the immunologic mechanism' (Bockus, 1976, p. 1135). Current medical textbooks describe the appendix as a 'well-developed lymphoid organ' (Moore, 1992, p. 205) whose 'mucosa and submucosa…are dominated by lymphoid nodules' and whose 'primary function is as an organ of the lymphatic system' (Martini, 1995, p. 916)."

"I found tebones source - a christian website. And the christians never ever twist anything to their own point of view, do they?"

Wow... a logical fallacy doubleheader: poisoning the well and genetic fallacy.

Answer 4

As a Theist I know that our appendix has become a vestigial organ after thousands upon thousands of years of evolution. What other explanation would you like?

I think you meant to ask the Christians.

Answer 5

Or toe nails? or eye brows? or hair on our heads? We DON'T need them in order to live !!! Does that mean that they are useless? Certainly not.

I really don't know why we have an appendix. What does that prove? Certainly not macroevolution.

Just wondering : do monkeys have an appendix, and what is its function?

Edit : If what "tebone03" posted above is indeed true, it is absolutely amazing that more people aren't aware of this (including me).

Answer 6

I had once heard a theory that the appendix was used when mankind were hunter/gatherers but that we have not needed the organ since mankind evolved, at least intellectually... learning to cook their food, etc...

Not sure how accurate the theory is or how they came about it.

Answer 7

to give references at the end of a book. but seriously, likely because of either specific dietary combinations, a biproduct of design, or the result of microevolution.

I don't believe in macroevolution, but microevolution is plausible. who knows why we don't live 600+ years anymore. probably the same reason.

Answer 8

what if it was a way for the body to provide a by-pass for contaminated food ? it could've hooked up somewhere down the line. as it was needed less it withered to what it is today.

Answer 9

To give us a capacity, albeit incredibly small, for rumination !

Answer 10

the appendix is actually a filter