Vestigial structures are those anatomical structures which have no discernible function, or are greatly reduced, in their present form in modern species, but may have had a function in that species' ancestors.[1]
Examples
Examples of structures claimed to be vestigial include, but are not limited to, the human appendix[2][3], the wings of an ostrich, the pelvic bones of whales and boas [4], and the eyes of the mole and cave-dwelling salamanders.[5]
Different views
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 organisms.
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 criticize 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.[6]
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 the vast majority of those organs have since been found to have definite functions,[7] including the tonsils, thymus, and the pineal gland. The tonsils were found to help fight infection, and the thymus and pineal gland were both found secrete important hormones.[8]. In addition, some evidence suggests that the human appendix has a role in repopulating the gut with beneficial bacteria.[9]
External links
References
- ↑ http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Vestigial+structure
- ↑ http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/vestiges/appendix.html
- ↑ http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11555
- ↑ http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Boa
- ↑ http://www.bookrags.com/research/vestigial-structures-wap/
- ↑ Batten, Don, and Sarfati, John, ‘Vestigial’ Organs: What do they prove? (Creation Ministries International).
- ↑ Bergman, Jerry, Do any vestigial organs exist in humans? Journal of Creation, 14(2):95–98, August 2000
- ↑ http://www.darwinismrefuted.com/embryology_02.html#313
- ↑ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21153898/