Evolution is an interesting and enigmatic phenomenon.
The idea that all mammals, including ourselves, are interconnected somehow is fascinating. One that can be difficult to fully grasp – where do we find proof of evolution? Evidence of our ancestral heritage, tracing
back from early apes to Neanderthals and ultimately to the modern Homo sapiens we have become, is abundant.
A remarkable location to observe proof of evolution? Our very own bodies!
Numerous internal and external characteristics we possess are merely remnants passed down from our predecessors. Many of these features no longer serve a practical purpose in our current lives. As many people no longer scavenge for food or wander as nomads, we still retain these almost useless traits. They have been passed down to us from a time when they were crucial for survival.
Take, for instance, the strange feeling of getting goosebumps. It is not merely a random occurrence. Our mammalian ancestors, when experiencing cold temperatures, had a familiar way of dealing with the problem. Goosebumps served as a mechanism to increase their surface area and retain heat. A muscle connected to our arm hairs contracts when we are cold
-causing the hairs to stand upright and creating bumps on the skin.
If you do not see this tendon, congratulations, you are showing an evolutionary change!
The presence or absence of this tendon does indeed offer a fascinating connection to our ancestral lineage, with those possessing it carrying a tangible link to our evolutionary past. Likewise, individuals without this tendon represent tangible evidence of ongoing human evolution.
The ways in which our bodies retain traces of our evolutionary history never cease to amaze us. It’s remarkable to consider how our physical features, even
those which seem insignificant or obsolete, can reveal profound insights into our evolutionary journey.
Sources
1. “Proof of evolution that you can find on your own body.” Vox. Joss Fong. March 17, 2016
2. “Here’s Proof of Evolution You Can Find on Your Own Body.” Science Alert. October 10, 2018
