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How could vestigial structures like the whale pelvis and femur contribute to the theory of evolution?


Question asked by: bcockburn

Asked on: 08 May 2008

A vestigial structure is one that has no purpose for the animal in its current state, for instance the human appendix and the examples you give.

They support evolution because they are pointless - why would we have something that is pointless if we were designed creatures? The answer then comes from evolutionary theory that it's because in the past this was a useful feature to have and eventually it will evolve out of our systems but hasn't done so yet.

By: knowitall
Replied at: 22 Aug 2008
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Question Keywords

contribute  femur  theory  evolution  pelvis  vestigial  structures  

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