I think there’s sometimes a misunderstanding of how evolution works and also how long it takes. I’m a dentist and people sometimes ask me if we are going to evolve out of having wisdom teeth. The question kind of takes me aback because…lots and lots of people have to die of wisdom tooth infections in order to evolve away from having wisdom teeth.
People could just start finding a natural lack of wisdom teeth particularly attractive. Sexual selection can cause evolution too. Mind you it would also go very poorly socially
If lots and lots of people die of having wisdom teeth it won’t affect evolution because they’re likely already passed child bearing age. If a trait doesn’t kill a host until later in life evolution doesn’t act on it.
Yes and no. The selective pressure matters. If the teeth are no longer advantageous they will disappear over a longer time. Think of cave fish that loose their eyes. Eyes are not useful in a cave, and they require extra energy to make and maintain. It’s low selective pressure.
If the teeth were very disadvantageous, and causeing death,they would disappear much quicker. Think of island animals, typically large animals get much smaller than their mainland counterparts. There is less food available for their size. The smaller individuals don’t starve.
High selective pressure, happens much faster.
I think there’s sometimes a misunderstanding of how evolution works and also how long it takes. I’m a dentist and people sometimes ask me if we are going to evolve out of having wisdom teeth. The question kind of takes me aback because…lots and lots of people have to die of wisdom tooth infections in order to evolve away from having wisdom teeth.
People could just start finding a natural lack of wisdom teeth particularly attractive. Sexual selection can cause evolution too. Mind you it would also go very poorly socially
First date conversations. “So….did you have wisdom teeth? No? Let’s breed.”
If lots and lots of people die of having wisdom teeth it won’t affect evolution because they’re likely already passed child bearing age. If a trait doesn’t kill a host until later in life evolution doesn’t act on it.
Yes and no. The selective pressure matters. If the teeth are no longer advantageous they will disappear over a longer time. Think of cave fish that loose their eyes. Eyes are not useful in a cave, and they require extra energy to make and maintain. It’s low selective pressure.
If the teeth were very disadvantageous, and causeing death,they would disappear much quicker. Think of island animals, typically large animals get much smaller than their mainland counterparts. There is less food available for their size. The smaller individuals don’t starve. High selective pressure, happens much faster.