Why don't humans have tails?

[Rosaudio]

We don't need tails to balance.. we evolved to stand up straight.. so we got rid of the tails... I think

 

[tabang]

Is that what you're told on initiation weekends?

just google it and find out for yourself

 

[Nerfherder]

Just shows how ignorant people are who don't believe in evolution.

 

[DigitalSoldier]

An interesting piece:

What Evolution Left Behind On Humans:

Appendix
We all know about this one. You might even know someone who has had it removed. The appendix is a narrow, muscular tube attached to the large intestine. A common misconception is that this organ was used for digesting raw meat. It was actually used in our plant chewing days. It would aid in the digestion of cellulose. As the human diet changed, this organ stopped functioning, as it was no longer used. To be noted though, the appendix is rich with infection-fighting lymphoid cells, which leads some to think it still plays a role in our immune system. If the appendix did have this function, one would tend to believe that its routine removal would cause ill side effects.

Paranasal Sinuses
For as far back as I can remember, my mother always had sinus problems. Sometimes so bad she’d have to lay down just to make the pain bearable. Ironically, the sinus cavity serves little to no purpose for a human. The presence of our sinus cavities however actually do make our heads weigh less. The sinus cavity also adds warmth and moisture to the air we breathe.In animals with an heightened sense of smell (like a dog or cat), the sinus cavities are lined with olfactory tissues. Some scientists believe that our ancestors had a much better sense of smell (our DNA contains broken genes for additional odor receptors) but for some reason we lost that ability. Possibly as man grew more intelligent and our hunting techniques evolved, better ways of hunting emerged without the use the sense of smell.

Vomeronasal Organ
A tiny pit on each side of the septum is lined with non functioning chemo-receptors. They may be all that remains of a once extensive pheromone-detecting ability.Taken from Wikipedia:

Anatomical studies demonstrate that in the vomeronasal organ regresses during fetal development, as is the case with some other mammals, including apes, cetaceans, and some bats. There is no evidence of a neural connection between the organ and the brain in adult humans. Nevertheless, a small pit can be found in the nasal septum of some people, and some researchers have argued that this pit represents a functional vomeronasal organ. Thus, its possible presence in humans remains controversial.

Coccyx (AKA: The Tail Bone)
The coccyx is a set of fused vertebrae at the bottom of the spinal column. This is another useless remain of our ancestral past. It’s all that’s left of our tails, which disappeared from hominids before they began walking upright. The coccyx does serve as somewhat of a shock absorber, though that was not it’s original function.It is true that the coccyx has nine muscles attached to it, such as the muscle that is “necessary” for defecation. It should be noted that the coccyx, if surgically removed, does not cause any apparent health issues.

Extrinsic Ear Muscles
These three muscles most likely made it possible for prehominids to move their ears independently of their heads (again, like a cat or dog). We still have these muscles which is why most people can learn how to wiggle their ears.

Toes
While losing ones toes would cause problems with walking for awhile, we technically only need our big toe as a function to help keep our balance. Our toes were most likey used at one point for grasping on to things and climbing.

Neck Rib
This is a set of cervical ribs commonly thought to be leftovers from the age of reptiles. They still appear in less than 1% (about 1 in 200) of humans, and in rarer cases a person may not just have one but have two neck ribs. Unfortunately, these can cause nerve and artery problems.

Darwin's PointDarwin’s Point
Take your finger and run it along the the inner edge of your ear. Near the top you’ll notice a small piece of skin that is almost like a point. If you can’t find it, don’t worry not all humans still carry this. They believe that this may be a remain of a larger shape that helped us focus on distant sounds.

Third Eyelid
Somewhere along the evolutionary journey we actually had a third eye lid, much like you see on a frogs, for example. Humans retain a tiny fold in the inner corner of the eye.

Palmaris Muscle
This muscle (if you have it, only 11% of humans do) is a long and narrow muscle that runs from the elbow to the wrist. It is believed it may have been an important muscle for hanging and climbing. If you ever need reconstructive surgery, this muscle might be harvested for that purpose. Perhaps this should be called a human replacement part.

SubclaviusSubclavius Muscle
This muscle stretches under our shoulder from the first rib to the collarbone. It would still be a useful part if humans still walked on all fours. Not all humans have one and a small number of us actually have two.

Male Nipples
Lactiferous ducts (the lobes of the mammary gland at the tip of the nipple) form well before the the testosterone is released that causes a fetus to be a male. Also, men have mammary tissue that can be stimulated to produce milk.

Wisdom Teeth
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably had your wisdom teeth removed. I had all four of mine pulled when I was in high school. Despite what you think, these teeth weren’t totally useless. Since early humans had to chew a lot of plants (to intake the amount of calories needed to survive) the more teeth the better. Another theory regarding wisdom teeth is that they were replacement teeth that were lost from wear and tear.

Erector Pili (ie. Goosebumps)
These are bundles of smooth muscle fibers that allow animals to puff up their fur to intimidate others. They also served the function of insulation when we had more body hair. While we still retain this ability our lack of body hair makes them useless. Ever get startled and you get goosebumps? Ever see the same thing on other animals? Not as intimidating when you don’t have the hair or fur to puff up.

Body Hair
Most of your body hair serves no function (though some think otherwise). Eyebrows keep sweat from going into your eyes, and male facial hair may play a role in sexual selection. Armpit and pubic hair help deal with moisture but beyond that it does us no good. Your arm and leg hair are just the remains of a once fully covered body of hair.

Thirteenth Rib
While our closest cousins (chimps and gorillas) still retain this extra set of ribs, most humans have 12 ribs. Additionally, about 8% of humans are born with extra ribs.

Male Uterus
While not exactly a evolutionary left over, the remains of the undeveloped female reproductive organ from our prenatal state still remains. This organ hangs off of the male prostate gland but obviously serves no purpose.

Female Vas Deferens
These are a cluster of useless dead-end tubules near the ovaries. Yet another left over from our prenatal existence, these are thought to become sperm ducts in males but develop into the epoophoron in females.

 

[porchrat]

just google it and find out for yourself

LOL @ crazy man.

 

[F111]

Do you also say that people who don't believe in evolution are uneducated idiots who don't have a clue what evolution is all about. Do you call them “morons,” “gullible,” “dishonest,” “insane,” “opposed to science,” and similar unflattering words.

Is evolution a fact, like gravity? or is it just a theory

 

[HapticSimian]

Is evolution a fact, like gravity? or is it just a theory

Well, now that you mention it...

People who maintain disbelief after being given all the relevant information (and time to digest it) are indeed, among other things “morons,” “gullible,” “dishonest,” “insane” and/or “opposed to science”.

 

[porchrat]

So humans don't need tails, but what is the evolutionary advantage to not having a tail that would cause to humans to evolve to not have tails?

There doesn't necessarily have to be an advantage to not having a tail. Off hand though I'd say a tail would get in the way quite horrifically when you're walking around on the floor (remember humans didn't just start walking upright spontaneously it was a gradual transition).

 

[porchrat]

Is evolution a fact, like gravity? or is it just a theory

You mean like the Theory of Gravitation?

EDIT (added to increase comedic value ):

OH FSCK EVERYONE GRAVITY HAS A THEORY ASSOCIATED WITH IT!! THAT MEANS GRAVITY MIGHT NOT BE A FACT!!! QUICK GRAB SOMETHING BOLTED DOWN AND HOLD ON TIGHT SO YOU DON'T FLOAT AWAY!!!

 

[F111]

Well, now that you mention it...

People who maintain disbelief after being given all the relevant information are indeed, among other things “morons,” “gullible,” “dishonest,” “insane” and/or “opposed to science”.

Evolution is a belief system. It certainly has not been proved to be a scientific fact.

In the words of the great detective Sherlock Holmes: “Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing,” answered Holmes thoughtfully; “it may seem to point very straight to one thing, but if you shift your point of view a little, you may find it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something entirely different” . . . “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact”.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Seven out of 10 caucasians are born with a tail which is normally surgically removed at birth.

That made me lol, thanks

 

[Rosaudio]

Do you also say that people who don't believe in evolution are uneducated idiots who don't have a clue what evolution is all about. Do you call them “morons,” “gullible,” “dishonest,” “insane,” “opposed to science,” and similar unflattering words.

Is evolution a fact, like gravity? or is it just a theory

Evolution may be a theory but it's a lot more believable than the theory of creationism

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Evolution is a belief system. It certainly has not been proved to be a scientific fact.

In the words of the great detective Sherlock Holmes: “Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing,” answered Holmes thoughtfully; “it may seem to point very straight to one thing, but if you shift your point of view a little, you may find it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something entirely different” . . . “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact”.

How can something which obeys the scientific method be a belief system?

 

[HapticSimian]

Evolution is a belief system. It certainly has not been proved to be a scientific fact.

Didn't read my link, did you?

It is no more a belief system than germ theory, the theory of gravity, plate tectonic theory or any other scientific theory you could hope to mention. If you think the only evidence of evolution is circumstantial in nature, you have a tremendous amount to learn...

 

[porchrat]

Evolution is a belief system. It certainly has not been proved to be a scientific fact.

In the words of the great detective Sherlock Holmes: “Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing,” answered Holmes thoughtfully; “it may seem to point very straight to one thing, but if you shift your point of view a little, you may find it pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something entirely different” . . . “There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact”.

LOL yea I'd agree with you if we actually had another viable point of view to shift to. Which we don't. Unless you think you can change physics as we understand it. You're welcome to try and prove it to me or even present a hypothesis as to how it would even be possible. Until then though you can take the vague reference to "circumstancial evidence" and shove it

It is only "circumstancial" when other circumstances exist.

 

[F111]

How can something which obeys the scientific method be a belief system?

If you accept evolution without question you will generally be safe from academic criticism. But if you push evolutionists for evidence that a creature lacking the genetic information for some major features has turned into a creature with that genetic information, they quickly run out of examples of where that new information came from. Instead, they tend to resort to sneering, irrelevant claims, verbal abuse, diversions, sarcasm, and even threats. I have one in the family that always cause arguments he only gets his facts from books. As with most amateur Evolutionist he does not understand or have studied biology science or maths pass grade 7.

 

[porchrat]

If you accept evolution without question you will generally be safe from academic criticism. But if you push evolutionists for evidence that a creature lacking the genetic information for some major features has turned into a creature with that genetic information, they quickly run out of examples of where that new information came from. Instead, they tend to resort to sneering, irrelevant claims, verbal abuse, diversions, sarcasm, and even threats. I have one in the family that always cause arguments he only gets his facts from books. As with most amateur Evolutionist he does not understand or have studied biology science or maths pass grade 7.

New information? Oh come on seriously? Creationists are STILL using this one?

Just go away with this nonsense man. Read a bloody text book.

 

[HapticSimian]

F111, I'd suggest you start here. That is, if you're interested in actually learning anything.

 

[DigitalSoldier]

If you accept evolution without question you will generally be safe from academic criticism. But if you push evolutionists for evidence that a creature lacking the genetic information for some major features has turned into a creature with that genetic information, they quickly run out of examples of where that new information came from. Instead, they tend to resort to sneering, irrelevant claims, verbal abuse, diversions, sarcasm, and even threats. I have one in the family that always cause arguments he only gets his facts from books. As with most amateur Evolutionist he does not understand or have studied biology science or maths pass grade 7.

 

[Rosaudio]

If you accept evolution without question you will generally be safe from academic criticism. But if you push evolutionists for evidence that a creature lacking the genetic information for some major features has turned into a creature with that genetic information, they quickly run out of examples of where that new information came from. Instead, they tend to resort to sneering, irrelevant claims, verbal abuse, diversions, sarcasm, and even threats. I have one in the family that always cause arguments he only gets his facts from books. As with most amateur Evolutionist he does not understand or have studied biology science or maths pass grade 7.

What do you believe then?