Purpose of Appendix Believed Found 235
CambodiaSam sent in this story, which opens: "Some scientists think they have figured out the real job of the troublesome and seemingly useless appendix: It produces and protects good germs for your gut.
That's the theory from surgeons and immunologists at Duke University Medical School, published online in a scientific journal this week.
For generations the appendix has been dismissed as superfluous. Doctors figured it had no function. Surgeons removed them routinely. People live fine without them.
The function of the appendix seems related to the massive amount of bacteria populating the human digestive system, according to the study in the Journal of Theoretical Biology. There are more bacteria than human cells in the typical body. Most are good and help digest food.
But sometimes the flora of bacteria in the intestines die or are purged. Diseases such as cholera or amoebic dysentery would clear the gut of useful bacteria. The appendix's job is to reboot the digestive system in that case."
Obligatory (Score:2, Funny)
the purpose of the appendix (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Polio, Asthma & Allergies (Score:3, Funny)
I could spout more of my fears of an overly medicated, overly hygienic society but my neck is really sore from the tinfoil fortress atop my head.
System reboot: continue? (Score:5, Funny)
Gives a new meaning to the term "stack dump". I myself am currently suffering from a stop error. :-(
From my perspective (Score:4, Funny)
Unless you have access to surgeons. Yay modern medicine!
Re:Evolution would have gotten rid of it (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Polio, Asthma & Allergies (Score:5, Funny)
> "I was also worried about bacteria adapting to alcohol etc. "
Support contract (Score:3, Funny)
The appendix's job is to reboot the digestive system in that case.
So your appendix is run by Microsoft support.
Re:Evolution would have gotten rid of it (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Polio, Asthma & Allergies (Score:5, Funny)
That's exactly why I clean my hands by setting them on fire. Anything left after it's been put out can stay.
My high school bio teach told me (Score:4, Funny)