Fact Check: Humans Still Evolving After Finding an Extra Vein in Body

Scientists found an extra vein growing in some humans. They suggest that this extra artery shows that people are still evolving.

Imagining how other living organisms evolve leads to wild speculations over stand-out features, such as brain size, skin complexion, and height. On the other hand, although the human body experiences slight changes, they can still be signs that people are still changing physically.

According to the Journal of Anatomy, which published the study's results, the additional vein is an embryonic structure that usually forms around the baby's 8th week in the mother's womb. This artery typically vanishes as the human grows.

What scientists found out

The researchers from the University of Adelaide and Flinders University in Australia discovered that some adults still have the vein.

Teghan Lucas, an anatomist at Flinders University, explained that different anatomists have been studying the prevalence of the additional artery in adults ever since the 18th century. He added that the new study shows that the vein is clearly increasing nowadays.

"The prevalence was around 10 percent in people born in the mid-1880s compared to 30 percent in those born in the late 20th century, so that's a significant increase in a fairly short period of time, when it comes to evolution," added the scientist, according to Science Alert's latest report.

Scientists said there are some cases the vein remains

The researchers said that it isn't guaranteed that the artery will vanish after birth. There are some cases that the extra vein still remains.

Some people may still have it in their hands or forearm. However, they explained that the study's results showed that it seems to be three times as common in adults nowadays than in the previous century.

They suggest that natural selection is favoring those who still have a mysterious vein. Lucas said that mutations of genes or health problems during pregnancy could have caused the extra artery to stay in the human body.

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Written by: Giuliano de Leon.