Human faces are becoming shorter, due to changes in our diet, and our smaller jaws mean there is less room for teeth. As a result, most babies are now being born without wisdom teeth.
According to Dr Teghan Lucas, of Flinders University in Adelaide, this indicates that humans are still evolving — and at a rapid rate.
Dr. Lucas and a team of scientists discovered that people are undergoing a kind of “micro-evolution” where evolutionary changes can be noticed over a short period of time. Some of the changes also include weaker jaws, which is likely due to our dependence on fire and processed food more than ever before.
Scientists also found that some people are being born with additional bones in their arms and legs, as well as an extra artery in their arm. They also found that some people are born with abnormal connections of two or more bones in their feet.
The research is published in the Journal of Anatomy. However, this isn’t the only study to reach these conclusions.
Human evolution is an active and ongoing process, influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The loss of wisdom teeth, the emergence of new anatomical features, and shifts in skeletal structures all serve as evidence that our species continues to adapt. These findings not only enhance our understanding of human biology but also open new avenues for research in health, medicine, and evolutionary science.
Source: Hashem Al-Ghaili