Through history, as natural selection played its part in the development of modern man, many of the useful functions and parts of the human body become unnecessary. What is most fascinating is that many of these parts of the body still remain in some form so we can see the progress of evolution. This list covers the ten most significant evolutionary changes that have taken place – leaving signs behind them.
Humans get goose bumps when they are cold, frightened, angry, or in awe. Many other creatures get goose bumps for the same reason, for example this is why a cat or dog’s hair stands on end and the cause behind a porcupine’s quills raising. In cold situations, the rising hair traps air between the hairs and skin, creating insulation and warmth. In response to fear, goose bumps make an animal appear larger – hopefully scaring away the enemy. Humans no longer benefit from goose bumps and they are simply left over from our past when we were not clothed and needed to scare our own natural enemies. Natural selection removed the thick hair but left behind the mechanism for controlling it.
Jacobson’s organ is a fascinating part of animal anatomy and it tells us a lot about our own sexual history. The organ is in the nose and it is a special “smell” organ which detects pheromones (the chemical that triggers sexual desire, alarm, or information about food trails). It is this organ that allows some animals to track others for sex and to know of potential dangers. Humans are born with the Jacobson’s organ, but in early development its abilities dwindle to a point that it is useless. Once upon a time, humans would have used this organ to locate mates when communication was not possible. Single’s evenings, chat rooms, and bars have now taken its place in the process of human mate-seeking.
While many of the hangovers from our “devolved” past are visible or physical, this is not true for all. Humans have structures in their genetic make-up that were once used to produces enzymes to process vitamin C (it is called L-gulonolactone oxidase). Most other animals have this functioning DNA but at some point in our history, a mutation disbled the gene – whilst leaving behind its remnants as junk DNA. This particular junk DNA indicates a common ancestry with other species on earth, so it is particularly interesting.
Also known as the extrinsic ear muscles, the auriculares muscles are used by animals to swivel and manipulate their ears (independently of their head) in order to focus their hearing on particular sounds. Humans still have the muscles that we would once have used for the very same reason – but our muscles are now so feeble that all they can do is give our ears a little wiggle. The use of these muscles in cats is very visible (as they can nearly turn their ears completely backwards) – particularly when they are stalking a bird and need to make the smallest movements possible so as to not frighten its future meal.
The plantaris muscle is used by animals in gripping and manipulating objects with their feet – something you see with apes who seem to be able to use their feet as well as their hands. Humans have this muscle as well, but it is now so underdeveloped that it is often taken out by doctors when they need tissue for reconstruction in other parts of the body. The muscle is so unimportant to the human body that 9% of humans are now born without it.
Early humans ate a lot of plants – and they needed to eat them quickly enough that they could eat a sufficient amount in one day to get all of the nutrients they needed. For this reason, we had an extra set of molars to make the larger mouth more productive. This was particularly essential as the body lacked the ability to sufficiently digest cellulose. As evolution made its selections, our diets changed, our jaws grew appropriately smaller, and our third molars became unnecessary. Some human populations have now all but completely stopped growing wisdom teeth, while others have almost 100% likelihood of developing them.
If you watch a cat blink, you will see a white membrane cross its eye – that is called its third eyelid. It is quite a rare thing in mammals, but common in birds, reptiles, and fish. Humans have a remnant (but non-working) third eyelid (you can see it in the picture above). It has become quite small in humans, but some populations have more visible portions than others. There is only one known species of primate that still has a functioning third eyelid, and that is the Calabar angwantibo (closely related to lorises) which lives in West Africa.
Darwin’s point is found in the majority of mammals, and humans are no exception. It is most likely used to help focus sounds in animals, but it no longer has a function in humans. Only 10.4% of the human population still has this visible left-over mark of our past, but it is possible that a much larger number of people carry the gene that produces it as it does not always cause the ear tubercle to appear. The point (shown in the picture above) is a small thick nodule at the junction of the upper and middle sections of the ear.
The coccyx is the remnant of what was once a human tail. Over time we lost the need for a tail (as tree swinging was replaced by hanging out at the local water hole grunting neanderthal gossip), but we did not lose the need for the coccyx: it now functions as a support structure for various muscles and a support for a person when he sits down and leans back. The coccyx also supports the position of the anus.
The appendix has no known use in modern humans and is often removed when it becomes infected. While its original use is still speculated on, most scientists agree with Darwin’s suggestion that it once helped to process the cellulose found in the leaf-rich diet that we once had. Over the course of evolution, as our diet has changed, the appendix became less useful. What is particularly interesting is that many evolutionary theorists believe that natural selection (while removing all of the abilities of the appendix) selects larger appendices because they are less likely to become inflamed and diseased. So unlike the little toe, which may eventually vanish and is equally useless, the appendix is likely to stay with us for a long time – just hanging around doing nothing.
Contributor: JFrater
“Other times I think I’m a throwback because I have a tail. Granted, it’s in the front, and it’s not vestigial.”
That made me giggle
“Of course, since listverse PUBLISHES that hate speech, it’s better to say that listverse PROMOTES hate speech”
Disadvantage of free speech that one, you do actually have to put up with what some people say.
By-the-by I have met many Christians who could accept we were placed here by God but have been allowed to evolve (albeit not from apes, but just as the species of man).
Good list. I am intrigued though by the references to how certain percentages of the population no longer have a certain attribute. And more specifically, why some traits seem to die off quicker than other traits (and in fact how the traits really die out at all – I thought it all became junk DNA).
STL Mo, zigra – Al Gore invented the internet just for this very purpose. This way we can all get together and ***** about each other. It allows a forum for guys like Bob to tell us we’re all haterz.
It’s a form of evolution that you’re not taking into account. Instead of being the old fogey who gets mad when your football goes into his yard or being a loudmouth jerk at a game, you can come to the internet and get your ya-ya’s out by calling everyone who disagrees with you a douchenozzle.
I don’t know about you, but instead of being repulsed by all of this, it just draws me in like a kitty skittering across a polished wood floor after a ball of yarn. I get evolutionary reminant goosebumps just thinking about it.
When I was in 2nd grade, a classmate had the ability to wiggle his ears. I was insanely jealous. I practiced for weeks and weeks and weeks to no avail. I simply could not produce a wiggle…not even a tremble. I could, however, dislocate and relocate the knuckles of my fingers, which freaked out everyone, including Sister Petronella!
My youngest daughter has the oddest ability I’ve ever seen, discovered by her at the age of 3. She can will her nostrils closed, just like a seal! It looks absolutely bizarre.
It was your first list on medicine right ? I liked it and it was actually first list that I already had the image in my mind what Im gonna see next. Those functionless organs are called “rudimentary Organs” in medicinal language. That Third eye thing is still common among animals (dont remember for sure but I think they were camels or eagles!) their main function is to clear the eye of the dust etc. A reasonable blow to one’s coccyx region can be lethal !
36. bucslim – January 5th, 2009 at 6:50 am
I’m just glad God left my coccyx where it is. I appreciate it’s role in the positioning of my anus. I mean, you can’t just have your anus position in a sloppy, haphazard way. If anuses were left to their own devices, then we’d have anarchy. What if we all had anuses in different positions?
All hail the coccyx and it’s role in our daily lives!
—-
OK, I admit I copis that because it was the first comment that made me laugh on this list… However, all subsequent comments by bucslim made me laugh just as hard but I thought it might get old to copy them all. Hats off bucslim… Thanks for making my day.
Other body parts that might eventually be lost to evolution:
Ear hair
Nose hair
Ear lobes (the lower fleshy part where most earrings hang)
Eye brows (since a lot of women shave them off and paint them back on, they must not be very necessary)
The Frog Prince
Once upon a time a billion years ago there was a frog. The frog reproduced and had tadpoles and they reproduced and had tadpoles. This continued for a billion years until one day instead of tadpoles…a human popped out. He grew up to write Purple Rain, Little Red Corvette and Raspberry Beret and called himself Prince. He lived happily ever after.
The end.
I love this list. I also believe in God and in evolution.
The muscle is so unimportant to the human body that 9% of humans are now born without it.
Isnt it still kinda important if 81% of people still have it? :S
Sorry, that would be 91%.
22. Mikey: I had surgery for peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix at the age of 7. What sins could I have commited at that age?
I dont think Mikey was being serious somehow.
That said, anyone who knows the difference between right & wrong has the capacity to sin.
If two boys under 10 can kidnap, torture and murder a 2 year old, I’m sure there are plenty other sins a child can commit.
As this list goes, tis interesting but seems like a whole lot of “we don’t know what this stuff really does, but because other animals have something similar we’re assuming its an evolutionary knockoff”
If anything, doesn’t it kinda suggest that humans are going the opposite way and de-evolving? Is it that we “no longer need” certain things or simply that too much genetic damage has been done for everything to function as it once did. It doesn’t kill us or inhibit us but then how are we to know if we don’t even know what it would be like to fully have these things?
If everyone got a genetic defect that removed a kidney, would it mean we no longer need two?
it took all of 21 comments before war broke out…great list. liked this one a lot
GTT – thanks for reprinting my anus post.
Uh, . . . I read that last sentence again and it just doesn’t seem right. Didn’t a few dudes in the embarrassing deaths list die of something posted in their anuses?
Anyway, a new thought just popped into my walnut sized brain. That Darwin’s point thingy is a wrong man. Instead of posting a picture of a monkey with a pointed ear, Jfrater shoulda posted a picture of Spock. What, the Listverse now is hating Vulcans?
Sheesh, if Darwin would have just watched ‘The Squire of Gothos’ episode 17 of season one of Star Trek, all of this ***** would have been sorted out much better. It’s crystal clear proof that Vulcans populated the earth millions of years ago. C’mon JFrater, do some research!
segue, I also have a few weird abilities…one of them is that I can shake my eyeballs. I found out I could do it when my twin randomly shook them and I was like hell no she can’t have all the glory!!
BTW, to whoever said that the appendix is how God tells us we are sinners…my brother had his appendix out when he was 9, so he is a sinner? That is why I don’t like a lot of creationists, they shove their beliefs down your throat and they are often extremely hateful. How much evidence is there for evolution?, and then how much evidence is there for God?
I don’t mean to be so annoying but don’t make hurtful comments about people you don’t even know, that’s not what religion is about, it’s about LOVING thy neighbour!
(I believe in God and evolution btw)
Very educational list.
I thought the goose bumps (#10) was one of the more interesting ones on the list.
I was just thinking though that sometimes I get goose bumps when I experience something that moves me. So if I was with my mate and she said or grunted something that moved me she would think that I was cold and afraid of her. That would be a bummer.
copper I think eyebrow shaving is a personal preference, and I don’t think enough people do it to make it evolutionarily (not sure if that’s a word?) moot. Besides, if that was the case, they wouldn’t have to continue to shave them because they would stop growing back.
I think the book of Romans should be renamed Appendix because Romans is where we find out that we are all sinners.
Actually the appendix thing comes up in Ephesians.
‘Lo, I have placed a part of thine body, which I formed from dust, to remind thee of thine sinfulness. Let each of you seek out dudes with sharpend schythes to remove your reminder, and sin no more. From thine lower gut, let an incision be made to retrieve the ultra sinful reminder of thine sinfulness. After two days lying prostrate and eating only of the frozen curd, let thou receive an inflated reminder of how greedy schythe wielding bastards charge for removing your sinful, non usable worm like organ. Unless thine is enrolled in a sinful HMO, then thou shall take a number to wait until called.’
I’m paraphrasing here. . . .
Very good list on a tough subject, I enjoyed reading it. Too bad that its mostly bolgna (or boloney? , baloney?) There is ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF that evolution is a real concept.
I am not a religious person in any way, but evolution is a joke, just take a look at the fossil record. The fossil record is incomplete at best.
If you truly follow the fossil record instead of having anthropologists fill in the blanks with “theories” then you will realize that human beings essentially just appeared one day out of nowhere.
Do we come from apes? Of course not. Do we share 95-98 percent of our DNA with them? Sure. But we also share 90% of our DNA with a banana. Does that mean we evolved from bananas?
Anthropologists have continually falsified records and fossils to prove theories. That is a fact. Every one of them wants to be the one that discovers a new species of something or find proof of a continous time line. But guess what there is none.
A human skull is a human skull. An ape skull is an ape skull. Just because one ape skull brow line is higher or the skull is thicker or thinner or whatever, doesn’t mean that its a new species or some descendant.
Think about it. If the human race were to go extinct and aliens come 1,000,000 years from now and dig up our bones, and they find a normal skeleton and then they find Yao Ming’s skeleton. Does it mean Yao Ming is another species?? Of course not. But this is what these people want you to believe.
I just love armchair anthropologists. Do you approach your job with as much preparation and thought as you have the field of evolutionary biology, Rolo? Those silly scientists…
"Anthropologists have continually falsified records and fossils to prove theories. That is a fact."
You have a very funny definition of "fact". The size is not the only evidence a scientist need to declare a new species genious. Unlike in religion, science demands a ton of proof to be taken seriously.
great list!!
The above comment is false! Yao Ming is an eternal and will never die, so the Aliens from a million years in the future couldn’t possibly find his skeleton.
As to the rest, you gotta go with the evidence. If you find new evidence which points to something else, great! If not, then 2+2 will remain 4 until you get more of a reason for it to be equal to 5 than ‘Because god told me so and he loves me’.
Fascinating list! I can wiggle my ears, I don’t find that to be all that interesting, just a fun thing to show to people who can’t.
I just had my wisdom teeth out 6 months ago too. I only developed 3 of them and one of the removed ones still has a huge gap. Is that normal? The other 2 closed up already…
If we lose our ear lobes, what will I hang my earrings on?? =)
All things in moderation and live and let live. Why do we have to start taking pot shots and fundamentalists and atheists? We’re bigger than that, people.
I was told I am missing both the plantaris and the arm muscles that are missing in a small percentage of the population. It’s supposed to be an evolutionary step.
Thank you, Jamie. As someone in the medical field, I find lists like this fascinating. Great list.
oz (13): That is true – though I believe I read that the wisdoms only become useful molars if they get a chance to move while you are still young. Having said that, I have 3 of my four wisdoms through and they are all healthy and functioning.
astraya (16): that is a good point – maybe I need to include a few boring lists so that we can ensure that natural selection does not root out listversers!
Noisicerp (27): Natural selection ensures a larger appendix because people with smaller ones are more likely to get sick from it – potentially developing peritonitis which can kill and still does even in modern times. It is slowly breeding out the small appendices
Rolo Tomasi:
Rolo, if ignorance was tuna fish, you’d be Chicken of the Sea.
Listen and try to allow some education to worm its way into that concrete-reinforced skull of yours.
A) there is every proof imaginable that evolution is a fact, pinhead, and said proof does not repose merely in the fossil record–which is incomplete, yes, but not a blank slate onto which you can paint your garbled, down-home gibberish. In short, the proof for evolution is interweaved amongst many disciplines and is not limited to paleontology. Microbiology alone gives us a big piece of the puzzle, which combined with evidence from various other sources, allows for a very strong supporting structure that underpins the theory. If you want to try to knock holes in it, then, you have to do better than whining about the lackings of the fossil record. This simply shows you know nuttin’–and like all such people, you would have done better to keep your fat mouth shut and try to learn something in life instead of thinking you know better than legions of trained scientists and researchers. But I know, I know… in keeping with the pattern of all self-satisfied blow-hards, wherever they may be, you wanted to show off on the internet by pretending you were “in on” the secret truth whilst the rest of us are just chumps. I know. There there.
B) The fossil record may be far from complete, and certainly the fossil record for hominids has some holes, but to say homo sapiens simply popped in out of nowhere is not only just plain wrong, but shot full of stupidity to boot. There is, in fact, a strong lineage that has been established from hominid ancestors (that are clearly NOT homo sapiens but also just as clearly are far more closely related to us than our nearest current relatives, chimpanzees) down to the form that is Us. I, as it happens, am proud of this lineage. You? Well maybe you’re embarrassed because you realize you come from the trailer trash slice of the Homo Habilis or Homo Erectus part of the pie. I don’t know.
Ah, but I forget—you believe scientists have “continually falsified records and fossils,” (which, by the way, is NOT a fact–saying it’s so don’t make it so, “Rolo”) so obviously this established lineage means nothing to you.
That you could make such an accusation with a straight face (one assumes it was so, anyway) when it is in fact patently absurd shows that you are either A) in the possession of some sort of irrational bias, despite your proclamations about “not being religious” or B) you are off your nut. Or, quite likely, you are both.
Shut up and go away and darken no further web doors with your blathering idiocy. There’s a good fella.
Hi Randall,
Unfortunately, I would have to agree with Rolo as he was more accurate. Evolution not only fails to explain the absence of new genetic specified information (as it requires) the very mechanism that supports it is completely inadequate – mutations and natural selection has never been witnessed to produce new structures. Mutations have instead been witnessed to damage existing genetic information, not a single example of a mutation building on it. Combining this with the fossil record indicates only one possible method for evolution to function – punctuated equilibrium – which unfortunately requires huge amounts of new information increasing mutations to occur in an extremely short time period. The fossil record does not demonstrate evolution, it demonstrates animals in statis. There are many examples (EG turtles) where animals have 'evolved' and have not changed throughout the entire fossil record.
Did you seriously need to talk to him like that??? Geez. If all of religion turns out to be fake, I will still be glad that I was a Christian during my life on Earth so that I will have been a part of a loving community instead of out-right hatefulness.
Im with Caitlin on this one. and besides , i think it takes more faith to belive in evolution than it does to belive in Creationism. i mean, come on, how can you believe that one day a tiny single celled ameoba decided he wanted to walk and started growing legs
For those who are saying the appendix DOES have a use (based on new research by Parker and associates), this is new research and definitely not conclusive. Furthermore, if Parker is right, this is only beneficial in poor countries with a lot of diarrhea. In the west, people who have their appendix removed have no physical impairment as a result
Where’d the good lists go?
jfrater:
Three recent excellent lists worthy of the old “Book of Lists,” pal. Nice work.
Freca (46): That soft fold on the cat’s ear is called a “tragus” and it is there to make mobility easier in the ear – which is why cats can push their ears completely flat and do other big movements with them. Humans have it too – it is the little bulb that points in to the ear from the face side – some people push it in to block out noise, rather than putting their finger directly in their ear.
Randall: Thanks
Okay. I’ve wanted to say a couple of things about some comments here, but I was too shy to do so (that, or bucslim’s unbrittled imagination scared me away
) But I just can’t resist.
Evolution is not only real and provable, but scientists (and anyone else) can see it happening before their eyes if they want!!!
Never mind that science understands enough about biology and genetics to know that evolution is as a naturally occurring process as mitosis and reproduction. Never mind that paleontology’s study of fossils is thorough and NOT incomplete (fossils may be usually incomplete and scarce, but that doesn’t mean that the study of them is also weak). Yeah, never mind all that.
Evolution happens all the time around us!
Hard to believe, you say? Well, then, let me help you out with that…
(I’m certainly no expert, but I’ll give a couple of examples of evolution happening right in front of our noses.)
Why do you think microorganisms are able to develop drug resistance? That’s right, bacterial strains EVOLVE the resistance to drugs if the dosage of drugs are wrong! There’s no two ways about this: bacteria which survive do so because they have adapted in order to be superior and resistant. That’s the very definition of evolution!!
It’s also common for geneticists to study fruit flies. Why? Among other things, because they’ve frickin SEEN them evolve! That’s right, fruit flies have been recorded to evolve over a few decades by scientists. That’s factual.
That said, it’s also a fact that science still has a lot to learn. There’s still many things that science can’t explain. But unlike Creationists, they don’t claim they have all the answers already.
Finally, I believe in evolution AND in God. That’s not a contradiction. Everyone should have the freedom to believe whatever they want to believe. The only contradiction here is a few Fundamentalist groups ruthlessly imposing an archaic belief that promotes ignorance for the sake of keeping their churches full, and which hard modern science has proven wrong.
And I’ll stop here or we’ll never hear the end of it. (Well, either way, I’m sure we’ll never actually hear the end of it!
)
i find it interesting that evolution with all the empirical and fundamentally proven evidence in support of it is still considered a lie. while blind faith and a story book of fables are all the evidence some people need to conclude that absolutely everything is controlled by something or someone.
I had my appendix removed (along with my hapless gall bladder–the loss of which I strongly regret now) some five years ago.
Now. I have observed that during certain conjugal activities… ahem… with the ladies… you know what I mean… well anyway, I have observed that during such fleshy fun times, that a strange collection of mutterings, whistlings, and other odd sounds seem to emanate from the region of my midsection. Through consultation with learned colleagues here at Big Eastern University–where I am happily employed–and through further extensive communication with spiritual Buddhist teachers and masters in the High Flung Secret Realms of the Himalayas (I prep schooled with some of those guys) I have come to the conclusion that these strange sounds are coming from my pancreas, which I have been told by these great minds is a highly excitable and dirty-minded little organ that would be addicted to ***** if only it could find a way to A) pay for a subscription to “Jugs” and “Cherry” magazines and B) have them somehow delivered to it within my bodily folds. Failing this, it sits there and waits and watches like the perverted voyeur that it is, and when I’m enjoying some fun time with a lady friend, it starts mumbling along like a lecherous old perv at a peep show.
The conclusion reached by my learned colleagues is that the function of the appendix is to shut the mother-f**kin’ pancreas up at such times so it does not embarrass us. A useful, if admittedly VERY arcane function. Further research is warranted.
Oh–I did ask why it couldn’t be that the gall bladder performs this function, seeing as I had mine out at the same time, as previously mentioned. Rampache Limpoch, the Low Lama of the Ramapushnuti Abbey in Kuala Lampur (I roomed with him for a year back in the old days–he was a terrible study partner in maths, not being able to keep his mind off Heather “Bunny” Sidwell–who sat two rows over from us in class–the lama had a thing for pale trust fund girls) answered (rather snootily) that everyone knows that the gall bladder’s only other function–aside from storing extra bile–is to increase our resistance to nausea when watching daytime television. Which explains why I don’t puke anymore whenever I’m forced to watch “The View” in the waiting room at my dentist’s office.
My appendix has a use. It helps my coccyx re-align my anus. That makes my Darwin’s Points rise.
Also, I get goosebumps sometimes when I’m peeing. What does that mean?
copperdragon (65): interesting point about brow hair – that is probably one of the few regions where the hair serves a useful purpose these days – which is to keep sweat out of our eyes when it rolls down the brow. As for the rest, I suspect (like you) that it will eventually pass away and we will look like aliens.
On a seperate note, those who are upset over the creation/evolution debate, don’t be – we all have our own views and the days are long past where people are locked up for having the “wrong” one. It is possible to believe in special creation without being angry at those who don’t, just as it is possible to believe in evolution while not hating those who don’t.
And let us not forget, the largest Christian religion in the world by a long way (Catholicism) is not fundamentalist and allows for the belief in evolution as God’s method of creating man
The two need not be mutually exclusive.
Not fundamentalist? Maybe regarding the evolution thing. But don't tell the gays, 'cause the ol' Pope ain't too keen on them…
That is to say, Creationism is something that fundamentalists want Christians and Catholics to believe is a core belief of their faith, when in fact it’s not. But don’t tell anyone, shhh……
96. jfrater: ahh, you took the words right out of my mouth with that last paragraph. Creepy…
Blogball (76) goose bumps also occur in situations of awe – which sounds like what you are describing
Everyone else: I think the comments about the appendix disease being for sinners was meant as tongue in cheek
great list! very informative and fascinating.
Randall – take some Beano and you won’t have those noises coming from your midsection. You disgusting pig! Good God man, now I have that image of you wrestling around with the monobrow Planter’s Chashew chick. GHNANAAAGGGH!
And by the way, it’s “Juggs” – can’t believe you got that wrong.
One of the best lists I have read in a long time!!! Great start to 09.
As a Christian, I have no problem with this list. I find it close minded and intolerant that there are those posting here that feel my belief in a higher power somehow makes me an ignorant, fairy tale believing, anti-science/research zealot.
How about we leave God outta this one and talk about this great list?
No one is trying to convert anyone in here one way or another…get over yourselves.
bucslim: Thanks for the hilarious comments – they are definitely much needed in touchy topics like this
pretty interesting list…
86. Randall Thats great! thanks for your insult. But where is your proof dummy. “Microbiology alone gives us a big piece of the puzzle” which piece is that?? The one you didnt mention or too ignorant too know, or too lazy to look up?
“Ah, but I forget—you believe scientists have “continually falsified records and fossils,” (which, by the way, is NOT a fact–saying it’s so don’t make it so, “Rolo”) so obviously this established lineage means nothing to you. “”
So I just made that up right? How about the Piltdown Man?? If you dont believe me here is the link, you piece of crap.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piltdown_Man
Yeah, I know… and this guy was supposed to be a “trained scientist and researcher”. Do I need to paste more links or is this enough for you.
And by the way. Watch who you call ignorant, I have a Master’s Degree from Rutgers University, what is your level of education??
Just because I choose to post a comment that is succinct doesn’t mean that I am talking out of my ass like you are. You are not fooling anyone with a fancy worded reply that is long and drawn out, but doesnt say a damn thing. Where are your facts? your empirical data?
I dont see any of that, the only thing I see is a cheapshot by some punk hiding behind a keyboard who, like many other people, thinks that by trying to sound sophisticated that they are actually saying something intelligent when they are not.
No Im not religious, yes I have taken more than a few biology and anthropology courses. When better proof comes out about evolution I will be convinced, until then dont come at me with insults and petty gripes
Sorry guys, I wasn’t trying to stifle debate so much as comment on how in so many other sites actual debate is replaced by name-calling. In the spirit of debate, I am going to challenge Rolo Tomasi to show some data that bananas and humans share 90% of their DNA, and remind him that humans did not evolve from apes, but that we share a common ancestor. And give him a virtual dope slap for ruining my favorite L.A. Confidential reference.
Kreachure’s comment 92 is excellent.
Let me change my wording. To make myself perfectly clear. Evolution may or may not exist.
If you want to tell that some animals have gained or lost features to adapt to their environment fine. I will give you that. I am not unreasonable.
But human beings DID NOT come from chimps or apes, or bananas.
Cool, I have Darwin’s Points on my ears, I didn’t realise only 10.4% of the population had them.
Rolo Tomasi, I urge you to do some research before spouting pseudoscience and misguided “facts” that aren’t facts at all. I suggest you start your research by looking up the word “fact” in the dictionary.
Then, research how a scientific theory becomes just that, a “theory”. Read about the peer reviews, repeated experiments and scrutiny a theory has to be put through before it’s accepted and a paper is published. There are no scientific “facts” only theories because scientists are always learning and science is ever changing. The only realm of science where you can use the word “fact” is in mathematics.
After you’re done with that bit of research. Do some light reading on something called “Natural Selection”. Forget that you may have heard that things just happened by “chance” or by “accident”, these are faith based buzz-words that creationists love to use to cloud the issue and quantify their claims, which don’t even go as far as being “theory”. There was no chance involved in natural selection at all, in fact it’s far more complex than “God did it” which is a far more immature and illogical claim. Keep in mind that Evolution and Natural Selection are not the same thing, Evolution is a result of Natural Selection. This bit of research should then give you enough raw knowledge to hit up YouTube and watch some videos by people called Thunderf00t and Potholer54, just do a YouTube search for these names. Watching these brilliant and informative videos should prepare you enough for the writings of authors like Carl Sagan, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Michael Shermer. Once you’ve perused a few of their books. Read the bible, front to back. It’s unfair to make any opinions on the beliefs of anyone unless you can understand (not necessarily agree with) their beliefs. Unfortunately, most creationists aren’t willing to take that same step.
After that, you should be educated enough to make comments regarding this topic and come to realize just how ridiculous your last comment was.
Best of luck!
Nice list jfrater!
Interesting list. Can’t say I believe in evolution per se but it was fun to read nonetheless.
Actually, let me apologize for that – I should reach out to Rolo since obviously he has great taste in movies. That can be our common ground
Awesome! Another Randall v ______ (insert name here) fight! Now I can put down my copy of Juggs and rubberneck the carnage!!!!
Wheeeee!!!
We used to use hip bones from tapirs to beat down the monkeys from across the tracks, now we get to see a real rumble brewing! I’m getting goosebumps (not from peeing this time)
‘
This is beyond foolish!!, WE DID NOT COME FROM ANIMALS! LMAO
I lol’d at this list
WHY3278… ignorance is bliss. We ARE animals.
Please do just the slightest bit of research before you give an opinion on something you obviously know nothing about.
Please tell me why in animal societies the weak and and sick are left to their own devices and generally die, thus leaving the rest of the pack/herd to evolve physically stronger and smarter, whereas us humans cater to the weak and sick and stupid, even cushion the world for them, even give them awards? This is what’s slowing down evolution for the human race. That being said…great list, great comments, and I guess if we were collectively more intelligent the Rolo Tomasi’s of the world would not exist. Give him an award…lol
I think when I was growing up in the 70′s my dad must have beat me so much my Jacobson organ was damaged at an early age. The only pheromones I sense now come from hairy, sweaty large women. And since it’s supposed to help you detect the potential dangers in attracting such bruisers, it’s pretty much a worthless piece of ***** now because I sense no danger.
Well that and the fact that the pheromones I give off usually smell like fermented baked beans and Heineken.
It sickens me to see things like 113. Our education system is extremely poor if it lets out people who refuse to accept that they are part of nature. I would think people like that should be required to attend extra classes to remove the brainwashing which prevents them from thinking.
Regardless of religious beliefs, we are part of the animal kingdom. We are related to animals. We are not created in situ by a diety. The bible uses parables to describe it’s intent. Not fact.
116: Aparantly you have not spent much time viewing animals.
They DO tend thier weak and sick. They just dont have as many resources available to them to do so. If you must have proof, google for the recent video of a dog which is dragging a wounded dog off a busy freeway at great risk to itself.