The appendix

The appendix • It’s considered to be a vestigial organ • Vestigial = no functionality currently • But did it have a function a long time ago?? • Brainstorm…. consider the diet of our ancestors

BEFORE….. • The appendix helped digest the raw meat and cellulose diet of our ancestors using the bacteria it stored. NOW….. • appendix serves as a haven for useful bacteria when illness flushes those bacteria from the rest of the intestines.

What about lactose intolerance? • The inability to digest dairy products because of lack of certain enzymes • Were we meant to have lactose tolerance? • Consider the fact that we are the only mammals who drink other animal’s milk after weaning • Brainstorm how lactose tolerance may have come about?

As agriculture started being practiced it became advantageous to be able to digest dairy products • Those with a mutation in the lactase enzyme were able to do it! This enzyme in others became inactive after childhood

The appendix

The appendix

Presentation Transcript

The Appendix

Appendix

The Greening Appendix

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APPENDIX

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APPENDIX

Appendix