Picturing how our species might appear in the far future often invites wild speculation over stand-out features such as height, brain size, and skin complexion. Yet subtle shifts in our anatomy today demonstrate how unpredictable evolution can be.

Take something as mundane as an extra blood vessel in our arms, which going by current trends could be common place within just a few generations.

Researchers from Flinders University and the University of Adelaide in Australia have noticed an artery that temporarily runs down the centre of our forearms while we’re still in the womb isn’t vanishing as often as it used to.

That means there are more adults than ever running around with what amounts to be an extra channel of vascular tissue flowing under their wrist.

https://www.sciencealert.com/more-of-us-are-growing-an-additional-artery-in-our-arm-showing-we-re-still-evolving

fsm said:

Picturing how our species might appear in the far future often invites wild speculation over stand-out features such as height, brain size, and skin complexion. Yet subtle shifts in our anatomy today demonstrate how unpredictable evolution can be.

Take something as mundane as an extra blood vessel in our arms, which going by current trends could be common place within just a few generations.

Researchers from Flinders University and the University of Adelaide in Australia have noticed an artery that temporarily runs down the centre of our forearms while we’re still in the womb isn’t vanishing as often as it used to.

That means there are more adults than ever running around with what amounts to be an extra channel of vascular tissue flowing under their wrist.

https://www.sciencealert.com/more-of-us-are-growing-an-additional-artery-in-our-arm-showing-we-re-still-evolving

fancy that.

sarahs mum said:

fsm said:

Picturing how our species might appear in the far future often invites wild speculation over stand-out features such as height, brain size, and skin complexion. Yet subtle shifts in our anatomy today demonstrate how unpredictable evolution can be.

Take something as mundane as an extra blood vessel in our arms, which going by current trends could be common place within just a few generations.

Researchers from Flinders University and the University of Adelaide in Australia have noticed an artery that temporarily runs down the centre of our forearms while we’re still in the womb isn’t vanishing as often as it used to.

That means there are more adults than ever running around with what amounts to be an extra channel of vascular tissue flowing under their wrist.

https://www.sciencealert.com/more-of-us-are-growing-an-additional-artery-in-our-arm-showing-we-re-still-evolving

fancy that.

So they’re sure this is a genetic change?

“…isn’t vanishing as often as it used to.”

iow not so much growing as finding a new use for

sounds like they might establish it’s original purpose
then go from there toward finding out it’s new purpose
…kinda’ like why humans no longer require an appendix

here’s a guess:
to supply enough blood to supply enough dexterity for
perhaps grasping mum’s fur as she swings through the trees
that humans no longer required since mummy now pushes a pram
that we now require anew for the dexterity required to play video games.

Ogmog said:

“…isn’t vanishing as often as it used to.”

iow not so much growing as finding a new use for

sounds like they might establish it’s original purpose
then go from there toward finding out it’s new purpose
…kinda’ like why humans no longer require an appendix

here’s a guess:
to supply enough blood to supply enough dexterity for
perhaps grasping mum’s fur as she swings through the trees
that humans no longer required since mummy now pushes a pram
that we now require anew for the dexterity required to play video games.

Too quick for that. I don’t think evolution works in a mere 20 years really.

Bodies are great at growing extra blood vessels. We do it all the time.

Rule 303 said:

Bodies are great at growing extra blood vessels. We do it all the time.

Just ask p_p…it’s the reason he has to have eye injections. Neovascularization in the retina is not a Good Thing. The vessels tend to be substandard and leaky.

Rule 303 said:

Bodies are great at growing extra blood vessels. We do it all the time.

The article isn’t saying that we grew a new one but rather
that we’ve mysteriously RETAINED that which we once lost

also saying
the retention of said blood vessel is responsible for carpal tunnel syndrome

is like blaming our colon for developing a common form of deadly cancer
instead of our modern use of sit-upon toilets since we’d evolved to squat.

buffy said:

Ogmog said:

“…isn’t vanishing as often as it used to.”

iow not so much growing as finding a new use for

sounds like they might establish it’s original purpose
then go from there toward finding out it’s new purpose
…kinda’ like why humans no longer require an appendix

here’s a guess:
to supply enough blood to supply enough dexterity for
perhaps grasping mum’s fur as she swings through the trees
that humans no longer required since mummy now pushes a pram
that we now require anew for the dexterity required to play video games.

Too quick for that. I don’t think evolution works in a mere 20 years really.

I was being cheeky about the video games thing
but rather the dexterity we require for our modern lifestyle

they’d been dissecting cadavers of those born around the turn of the century