Babies are being born without wisdom teeth

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Abstract

Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, noted that human faces are shortening and this has meant smaller jaws and consequently, a lack of room for wisdom teeth.</p><p id="059a">This is likely caused by changes in natural selection and how the human environment has changed dramatically. Dr Lucas explained, “This is happening in time as we have learnt to use fire and process foods more. A lot of people are just being born without wisdom teeth.”</p><p id="33ad">Another change noted in the research is that people are being born with additional bones in their arms and legs. There are also some abnormal connections of two or more bones found in the feet.</p><h1 id="bcfb">Increased prevalence of the median artery</h1><p id="07c5">The study by Dr Lucas with University of Adelaide professors, Jaliya Kumaratilake and Maciej Henneberg, found a significant increase in the prevalence of an artery in the forearm that supplies blood to the hand.</p><p id="8310">The median artery forms in the womb but usually disappears once the baby is born and the ulna and radial arteries have grown. Analysis has shown that since the 19th century, more people

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have been retaining the artery. Now, one in three keep the median arteries for life. It poses no risks and increases blood supply to hands.</p><p id="dbfa">Professor Maciej Henneberg said: “The median artery is a perfect example of how we are still evolving because people born more recently have a higher prevalence of this artery when compared to humans from previous generations.”</p><h1 id="a53a">Humans are going through a micro-evolution</h1><p id="5d31">The most obvious explanations for these changes are the huge changes in lifestyles over the past couple of centuries. As these changes continue to accelerate it is likely that these evolutionary changes will stay and more may develop.</p><p id="dfd4">After analysing the changes the authors noted: “This evolutionary trend will continue in those born 80 years from today, with the median artery becoming common in the human forearm.”</p><p id="3dac">As increasing numbers of people around the globe switch from agrarian lifestyles to more sedentary indoor work, coupled with switches in diet to more processed foods, it will be interesting to see further developments.</p></article></body>

Humans are evolving more rapidly with numerous changes

Humans are continuing to evolve at an increasingly rapid rate. Scientists in Australia have found that in the last 250 years, mankind has been evolving at a faster rate than any time previously in history.

The research was done by tracking retainment rates of body parts over generations, as well as comparisons with dissected body parts and corpses.

So what are the main changes?

Shorter jaws, smaller faces, no wisdom teeth and new bones

The main and most noticeable change is that modern babies are increasingly being born without wisdom teeth.

Dr Teghan Lucas from Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, noted that human faces are shortening and this has meant smaller jaws and consequently, a lack of room for wisdom teeth.

This is likely caused by changes in natural selection and how the human environment has changed dramatically. Dr Lucas explained, “This is happening in time as we have learnt to use fire and process foods more. A lot of people are just being born without wisdom teeth.”

Another change noted in the research is that people are being born with additional bones in their arms and legs. There are also some abnormal connections of two or more bones found in the feet.

Increased prevalence of the median artery

The study by Dr Lucas with University of Adelaide professors, Jaliya Kumaratilake and Maciej Henneberg, found a significant increase in the prevalence of an artery in the forearm that supplies blood to the hand.

The median artery forms in the womb but usually disappears once the baby is born and the ulna and radial arteries have grown. Analysis has shown that since the 19th century, more people have been retaining the artery. Now, one in three keep the median arteries for life. It poses no risks and increases blood supply to hands.

Professor Maciej Henneberg said: “The median artery is a perfect example of how we are still evolving because people born more recently have a higher prevalence of this artery when compared to humans from previous generations.”

Humans are going through a micro-evolution

The most obvious explanations for these changes are the huge changes in lifestyles over the past couple of centuries. As these changes continue to accelerate it is likely that these evolutionary changes will stay and more may develop.

After analysing the changes the authors noted: “This evolutionary trend will continue in those born 80 years from today, with the median artery becoming common in the human forearm.”

As increasing numbers of people around the globe switch from agrarian lifestyles to more sedentary indoor work, coupled with switches in diet to more processed foods, it will be interesting to see further developments.