VESTIGIAL Meaning and
Definition
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Vestigial is an adjective that describes something that no longer serves its original or intended purpose and has greatly diminished in size, function, or significance over time. It refers to a trait, organ, structure, or behavior that was once fully developed and functional in an ancestor but has become reduced, useless, or obsolete in the present-day form of a species.
The term is often used in evolutionary biology to describe traits or features that have lost their adaptive function due to changes in the environment, lifestyle, or genetic mutations. Vestigial structures may still exist in an organism, but they have been marginalized, degenerated, or repurposed over generations. These remnants are considered evolutionary remnants or relics.
An example of a vestigial organ in humans is the appendix, which in our ancestors had a role in digesting a high-fiber diet but has lost its function in modern humans. Similarly, the wings of flightless birds like ostriches or kiwis are considered vestigial as they no longer support their primary function of flying but have become smaller and less functional over time.
Vestigial traits are important evidence of evolution, as they provide clues about an organism's evolutionary history and shared ancestry with other species. By studying vestigial structures, scientists can better understand the process of natural selection and the adaptations that have shaped living organisms into their current forms.
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Relating to a vestige; rudimentary.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for VESTIGIAL
Etymology of VESTIGIAL
The word "vestigial" comes from the Latin word "vestigium", which means "footprint, track, or trace". It was first used in the late 19th century in biology to describe organs or structures that are reduced in size and function compared to their ancestral forms. These vestigial organs were believed to be remnants of structures that were once fully developed and functional in the evolutionary history of a species.
Similar spelling word for VESTIGIAL
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