The human appendix is functional, not vestigial

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Contents 1 Claim 2 Source 3 Responses 4 Fallacies contained in this claim 5 Related claims 6 See Also 7 Acknowledgments

Claim

The human appendix is not really vestigial. It has an immunological function as part of the lymphatic system. Its lymphoid follicles produce antibodies.

Source

• Ham, Ken, and Wieland, Carl, 1997. Your appendix: It's there for a reason. Creation Ex Nihilo 20(1):41-43. [1]
• Dembski, William A., 1998 (Oct.). Science and Design. First Things 86: 21-27. [2]

Responses

1. Vestigial does not mean "functionless." Even if the appendix does have a function, that doesn't refute it's status as a vestigial trait nor does it refute the evidence for common descent that the appendix provides.
2. The human appendix is regarded as vestigial because it corresponds to the caecum, which is found in many other mammal groups, including other primates, rodents, and perissodactyls. The caecum is an extension of the small intestines which is used to store and ferment predigested food. Because the human appendix is very similar in structure to the caecum, but is not used as a food-storage organ, the human appendix is considered to be vestigial.
3. Some people are born without an appendix, and have been documented as being fully able to lead completely normal lives without it.
4. The absence of an appendix has no apparent ill effects. In fact, when performing abdominal surgery for other reasons, doctors sometimes remove a healthy appendix in order to prevent appendicitis.
5. The appendix tissue is made from the wall of the large intestine, not from any specific lymphatic organ. The large intestine has many lymph nodes in it, called "Peyer's patches," and the lymph tissue in the appendix is derived from intestinal lymph tissue.
6. The presence of lymphatic tissue may have come about by natural selection. The appendix, due to its vestigial character, is easily infected by bacteria, so having a slight accumulation of lymphatic tissue may decrease the likelihood of peritonitis (a deadly complication where bacteria infect the abdominal cavity) from such infections.
7. Whether vestigial organs exist or not does not disprove evolution nor do they prove creationism.
8. add more responses

Fallacies contained in this claim

• Straw Man (vestigial traits don't have to be functionless)
• add more fallacies

Related claims

• Vestigial organs may have functions
• The tail bone is not vestigial since there are nine muscles that attach to it

See Also

• Why is Creationism not a Scientific Theory?

Acknowledgments

• user:LPetrich