• Question: Why do we still have our appendix if we don't use it any more. Over millions of years, will it disapppear?

    Asked by ellascientist on 26 Apr 2012. This question was also asked by spursboy118, doorkat, jamesgt01, spongeyyy.
    • Photo: Pete Etchells

      Pete Etchells answered on 26 Apr 2012:


      That’s a really good question, ella! It’s entirely possible that over thousands of years, we might see the appendix disappear, because we’ve stopped using it for its original function, which was to help digest certain types of plant matter. However, some scientists argue that it has started to take on a different role for humans, such as looking after some of the good bacteria that lives in your body. If that’s the case, then it might be better for us to keep it, so we won’t see it disappear.

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