Which is a vestigial tooth

[rakesh61]

Which of the following is a vestigial tooth

a) canine

b) molar

c) premolar

I think it should be premolar but the ans given is canine please tell me who is correct

[Darby]

First off, I disagree, but I think that the writer is assuming that canines are used for piercing and holding prey (or for threatening displays), which would seem to make them useless in humans. But we do use them to pierce and tear foods. Think of eating jerky or some other tough food...

[AstusAleator]

I agree wholeheartedly with Darby. If you use it, which we do, it's not vestigial.

Here's our very own biology-online.org definition of vestigial:

"refers to an organ or part (for example, the human appendix) which is greatly reduced from the original ancestral form and is no longer functional. Not fully developed in mature animals; rudimentary wings."

[wbla3335]

I remember hearing, years ago, that our back-most teeth (therefore molars) are on their way out, evolutionarily speaking. I have never seen any study to back up this claim (never looked either). Could be just hearsay. Could be true.

[mith]

You're thinking wisdom teeth.

[AstusAleator]

That's what they thought about our tonsils too

[Darby]

...And a British study just suggested that the appendix is a storage place for symbiotic bacteria, giving a source for replacement after a system-clearing illness.