Why are wisdom teeth are often given as an example of a vestigial trait?

Question

Can someone please help me????

Answer 1

The definition of vestigial trait is one that is not particularly useful in a species, but is useful in another species that appears to be an ancestor. In other words, the only explanation for the useless (or problematic) feature is the fact that it was inherited from a species where it *was* useful. The vestigial trait is thus evidence of that ancestral relationship.

Wisdom teeth are an example because they are not that useful in humans (in fact they can be a serious problem). But they are useful in species that appear to be ancestral ... specifically in the species we can idenfity by fossils as having had a larger jawbone where the extra wisdom teeth *were* useful. Another sign of a vestigial feature (although not necessary) is that is completely absent in a small percentage of individuals ... as wisdom teeth are.

Another example of a vestigial feature is the plantaris muscle in your calf. This is a long, thin muscle in your calf that is so useless that heart surgeons remove it for purposes of using the tissue in heart surgery, and the patient shows no loss of function at all. (It is also completley absent in about 9% of people.) However, this same muscle has a very definite purpose in the other apes ... it is used for grasping with the feet. Thus the plantaris muscle is clearly a vestige from the common ancestor we used to have with the other apes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantaris_muscle

Answer 2

Something is vestigial if it no longer has a significant function. Wisdom teeth were much more important to our evolutionary ancestors. Since they had a much rougher diet, without processed or cooked food, they needed extra teeth to grind up vegetable matter. Also, since there was no dental care (modern humans didn't even have dental care until fairly recently), a few extra teeth were a big benefit.

For a long time, humans have been cooking and otherwise processing their food, as well as growing specific foods, rather than foraging around for whatever is edible, so an extra pair of teeth is no longer a survival factor. In fact, since modern humans have smaller jaws than ancient humans, the extra teeth actually get in the way and cause problems. Very few people nowadays have all 4 wisdom teeth come in straight (and some don't even have all 4).

Answer 3

this was interesting I didnt realise some people got wisdom teeth and others didnt I just thought it was a matter of them coming through correctly
mine came through fine so I feel all superfluous and less evolved n stuff now haha

Answer 4

Because we can perfectly function even without wisdom teeth. We don't need wisdom teeth.

Answer 5

They dont grow in fully on most people and they cannot be used. Some people have jaws large enough to support them, but they are pretty rare (less evolved too!).

Answer 6

do not care want points!