Millions of years ago, our ancestors used to walk on all fours and hunt for their meals. Their diets consisted of tough foods like raw meat and plant roots which required more teeth and a larger, protruding jaw to hold all 32 teeth comfortably. As theorized by researchers the third molars, better known as the wisdom teeth were essential to the survival of our ancestors.
The discovery of fire and the invention tools and utensils made survival much easier for humans. Along with this, Our diet changed dramatically as We were able to consume softer, more processed foods. The structure of our jaws and teeth composition were altered dramatically with this technological revolution. We no longer needed wisdom teeth and started to lose the capacity to fit them in our jaws. Wisdom teeth no longer serve any functional purpose to us and as most traits that become useless, over time evolution removes them from our anatomy.
Currently, it is estimated that 35% of people live their lives without even developing wisdom teeth! Bio-engineers are assisting in this evolution away from wisdom teeth as they are researching methods to alter or remove wisdom teeth development in humans.
(Source: http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/evolution/no-wisdom-teeth1.htm)
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