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'''Vestigial structures''' are those [[anatomy|anatomical]] structures which have no discernable function in their present form in modern [[species]], but may have had a function in that species' [[ancestor]]s.<ref>http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Vestigial+structure</ref>

'''Vestigial structures''' are those [[anatomy|anatomical]] structures which have no discernible function in their present form in modern [[species]], but may have had a function in that species' [[ancestor]]s.<ref>http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Vestigial+structure</ref>

Examples of vestigial structures include, but are not limited to, the [[human]] [[appendix]]<ref>http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11555</ref>, the [[wing]]s of an [[ostrich]], the [[pelvis|pelvic]] bones of [[whale]]s and [[boa]]s <ref>http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Boa</ref>, and the [[eye]]s of the [[mole]] and cave-dwelling [[salamander]]s.<ref>http://www.bookrags.com/research/vestigial-structures-wap/</ref>

Examples of structures claimed to be vestigial include, but are not limited to, the [[human]] [[appendix]]<ref>http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11555</ref>, the [[wing]]s of an [[ostrich]], the [[pelvis|pelvic]] bones of [[whale]]s and [[boa]]s <ref>http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Boa</ref>, and the [[eye]]s of the [[mole]] and cave-dwelling [[salamander]]s.<ref>http://www.bookrags.com/research/vestigial-structures-wap/</ref>

In the view of secular evolutionists, vestigial structures are some of the best evidence in favor of [[evolution]] and against [[Intelligent Design]] because they believe they are explained by [[natural selection]], but it is difficult to justify why an intelligent [[creator]] would include seemingly useless structures in the design of [[organism]]s. Proponents of a creation or intelligent design model would counter that even if science is not currently able to determine the function of a particular structure, that does not constitute evidence that the structure has no function.  It only means that science is not able to determine the function using current methods.  Indeed, other structures believed to be useless in the past were later found to have definite functions. Such structures include the [[tonsils]], [[thymus]], and [[pineal gland]] among many others. The tonsils were found to help fight infection, and the thymus and pineal gland were both found secrete important hormones.<ref>http://www.darwinismrefuted.com/embryology_02.html#313</ref> In the case of [[creationists]], there is the added element of [[the fall]], where it is understood current conditions are not the way God originally designed.

In the view of secular evolutionists, vestigial structures are some of the best evidence in favor of [[evolution]] and against [[Intelligent Design]] because they believe they are explained by [[natural selection]], but it is difficult to justify why an intelligent [[creator]] would include seemingly useless structures in the design of [[organism]]s.

 

Proponents of a creation or intelligent design model point out that this argument, in claiming to know what the Creator would do, is not a scientific argument, but a theological one, yet evolutionists often criticise creationists for using theological arguments against evolution.

Furthermore, this theological argument ignores the counter argument of [[the fall]], where it is understood current conditions are not the way God originally designed, and additionally is, if anything, evidence for ''devolution'', not evolution.<ref>Batten, Don, and Sarfati, John, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/3863/ ‘Vestigial’ Organs: What do they prove?] (Creation Ministries International).</ref>

 

Furthermore, the fact that science has not determined the function of a particular structure does not mean that the structure has no function.  Indeed, evolutionists have in the past proposed 180 human organs as being vestigial, but we now know that every one of those organs have since been found to have definite functions,<ref>Bergman, Jerry, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1663/ Do any vestigial organs exist in humans?] ''Journal of Creation'', 14(2):95–98, August 2000</ref> including the [[tonsils]], [[thymus]], [[pineal gland]], and the appendix. The tonsils were found to help fight infection, and the thymus and pineal gland were both found secrete important hormones.<ref>http://www.darwinismrefuted.com/embryology_02.html#313</ref>.

The human appendix has a role in the very early developmental stages.<ref>Glover, Warwick, [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/1759 The human vermiform appendix] ''Journal of Creation'' 3(1):31–38,

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