Have you ever wondered if humans have gills? These oddly-shaped organs are not a part of the lungs or ear, but a genetic remnant from fishy ancestors. So, has anyone been born with gills? Probably not. Read on to find out why. Listed below are some of the reasons. Hopefully, you’ll learn something interesting.
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Humans have never been born with gills
Humans have never been born with gilles, despite the fact that fish have gills. The absence of gills in humans is probably due to genetic limitations. If humans were born with gills, we would probably not have legs and ears. However, there are some similarities between the human embryo and our common ancestors. Both share pharyngeal arches, structures that eventually develop into gills.
They’re a genetic leftover from fishy ancestors
Human gills, like the ear canal, are similar in development to the ones of fish, and scientists believe that they’re a leftover from the evolutionary process that led fish to evolve jaws. In fact, the DNA sequences for human ear canals and parathyroid glands are similar to those of fish. It is thought that the coccyx is important for human development, since the coccyx is the place where the limbs and muscles develop and end up in the body.
They’re not a part of the ear
The outer ear, also called the pinna, is an important organ that helps us hear sounds and keep our body balance. The outer ear consists of tough cartilage covered with skin. Sound waves travel through the ear canal to the inner ear, where speech and other brain functions are performed. Each person’s outer ear is different, and size and shape depend on genetics. But, in general, the outer part is the visible part of the ear.
They’re not a part of the lungs
Your lungs and respiratory system work together to keep you alive. Although they’re big and take up most of your chest space, they aren’t all the same size. For example, your left lung is smaller than your right one. That extra space helps your heart and other organs fit in better, including your lungs. This process is known as gas exchange. You breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide.
They’re unproven conceptualised devices
The idea of developing artificial gills to breathe water was once thought of as snake oil. The concept of artificial gills was never proven, and many remained skeptical about the technology. The fact is, natural gills work because animals with gills need less oxygen than creatures without them. Moreover, most animals with gills are thermoconformers, meaning they need less oxygen to survive.
They’re found in aquatic animals
Gills are respiratory organs in aquatic animals. They allow an aquatic animal to draw oxygen from water and expel carbon dioxide. Gills are microscopic tissue filaments that are folded or branched. Oxygen diffuses across the gills into the bloodstream, which the aquatic animal uses to transport oxygenated blood to other parts of the body. Gills are also present in crustaceans and mollusks.
They’re a part of our ancestry
The ancestors of modern humans had gills, which may have originated in ancient tadpoles. As a result, their external gills would have closed off the entrance to the lung when gulping water. This would force the water to the gills instead of the mouth. While the function of gills has no practical value to us, they provide evidence of our common ancestry.
