Most people develop wisdom teeth by early adulthood. Wisdom teeth can cause pain or crowd out their other teeth, so many people have these teeth removed. Wisdom teeth in modern humans do not perform a crucial life function.

Question

Which statement best describes the importance of wisdom teeth to human evolution?

(1 point)
Responses

They are evidence that humans have never evolved.
They are evidence that humans have never evolved.

They are vestigial structures that once performed an important function for human ancestors.
They are vestigial structures that once performed an important function for human ancestors.

They are vestigial structures that never performed a necessary function for human ancestors.
They are vestigial structures that never performed a necessary function for human ancestors.

They are evidence that humans cannot evolve.
They are evidence that humans cannot evolve.
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Answer 1

The statement that best describes the importance of wisdom teeth to human evolution is:

They are vestigial structures that once performed an important function for human ancestors.

Wisdom teeth, or third molars, were useful for our ancestors who had a diet that required more chewing power to break down tough plant material. As human diets evolved and with the development of cooking and food processing, these teeth became less necessary, leading to their classification as vestigial structures.