Anthropology

Nitram

(24,817 posts)

12. Yes, wisdom teeth changed over time when there were selective pressures that helped eliminate them

Reply to PoindexterOglethorpe (Reply #10)

Sat Apr 20, 2019, 09:22 AM

Apr 2019

from the gene pool. There can be no such evolution taking place now because wisdom teeth don't kill people before they can reproduce. You seem to ascribe to a sort of Lamarckian evolution. I don't dismiss evolution. I'm a biologist and understand that evolution does not bring about major changes unless there are selective pressures pushing a population in certain directions. And please, Poinmdexter, enough with the patronizing "do a little research." I've been researching evolution my entire life. If you cannot name a mechanism for an evolutionary change you claim to see taking pace in the present, then you are in error.

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Evolution of the human face points to a non-violent past [View all] Judi Lynn Apr 2019 OP

Yes. PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2019 #1

Thank you. murielm99 Apr 2019 #2

Thanks, added both to my ThriftBooks Wish List. nt eppur_se_muova Apr 2019 #3

I just found Thriftbooks about a year ago. Better late than never I guess...:) dameatball Apr 2019 #14

Tremendous reading recommendations. Thank you! n/t Judi Lynn Apr 2019 #4

Poindexter, I'm not sure I agree. We have not evolved in a genetic sense for a very long time. Nitram Apr 2019 #7

Yes, we have evolved in a genetic sense, PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2019 #8

What selective pressure is it that would lead to a complete loss of wisdom teeth? Nitram Apr 2019 #9

I don't know. But the reality is that PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2019 #10

Yes, wisdom teeth changed over time when there were selective pressures that helped eliminate them Nitram Apr 2019 #12

So if there are no selective pressures to eliminate wisdom teeth, PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2019 #13

A Ted talk awhile back analyzed how we are smarter than our great grandparents Farmer-Rick Apr 2019 #5

In all honesty, I'm not that certain that we, collectively, are PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2019 #11

We learned to kill without using our teeth to rip out an enemy's throat. Nitram Apr 2019 #6

I'm missing the "non-violent past" part as well. JustFiveMoreMinutes Apr 2019 #16

Cooked food too, me thinks prodigitalson Apr 2019 #15