And then some of us never have wisdom teeth.

By Jamey Johnston (Totino) on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - 07:24 pm: Edit

Well if science is to be believed, a big part of it was her optimal waist to hip ratio (.6 going from memory). But semi-joking aside, pre-social media she (and I presume her PR people) did a fantastic job of hitting just the right note on her "public image," walking a fine line somewhere in between wholesome and sleazy, which sort of hit a sweet spot. Got some good movie roles, and milked the public eye for quite a while. Combination of factors. Obviously not everyone's cup of tea (literally impossible) but call it a fine marketing job of hitting a critical mass of appeal. My thoughts on it anyway.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - 09:04 pm: Edit

Truthfully, I picked those two simply for recognition by everyone, not as representative of my own personal viewpoint.

By Russ Simkins (Madcowak) on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - 11:10 pm: Edit

Nuclear wastelands -> volcanoes -> wisdom teeth -> Marilyn Monroe's hip ratio

Four degrees of separation from the end of the world to a woman?

By Kevin Howard (Jarawara) on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 10:28 am: Edit

I read that as Marilyn Monroe's hip ratio being a direct result of nuclear wasteland.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 11:16 am: Edit

Kevin Howard:

And, actually, we all know that is just wrong.

Her hip ratio was the result of the Zombie Apocalypse.

By Jon Murdock (Xenocide) on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 11:49 am: Edit

Robotic Marilyn Monroe is destined to destroy civilization so comparing her to the apocalypse is fair:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrrADTN-dvg

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 02:51 pm: Edit

A. David Merritt:

If you do not have wisdom teeth, it is an indication of the continuance of evolution as I noted. We are evolving away from having wisdom teeth. The "more advanced humans" (apparently such as yourself) have already dispensed with them entirely, while we more primitive models (such as myself) are caught in between and thus have to hope that they "never come in" (like my fourth one which is still there but has not erupted) or endure great discomfort (because there is no room in our evolutionarily smaller jaws to accommodate them) until they can be surgically removed. The Truly primitive models, of course, have their wisdom teeth come in normally, and it may take a while for them to be fully eliminated from the gene pool. Or perhaps in the aftermath of the apocalypse the existence of wisdom teeth will become a net plus and we will re-evolve to retain them.

I, of course, have another evolutionary quirk in that not only are my bones heavier than normal (the real reason why I never broke one in my misspent youth despite numerous misadventures that should have accomplished that), but my teeth are actually harder than normal. (Something I did not know most of my life and was actually surprised to hear dental personnel discussing how other people had "soft teeth" that are more susceptible to damage, I had prior to that point always believed all human teeth were the same hardness.) The result was that when they tried to extract my wisdom teeth, they actually were forced to "shatter" them and take them out in pieces. One of the more interesting experiences in my life in that the effects of the gas they used on me for the operation was that I was completely aware of the intense pain I was in, but simply did not care.

By Jeffrey George Anderson (Jeff) on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 05:25 pm: Edit

My understanding of Darwin's Theory is that mutations occur all the time and, while they are the genesis of evolution (pun intended), it is when the differences these mutations cause are placed in competition with each other that the particular viability of a given mutation is put to the test.

In short, SPP, does your heavier, stronger, tougher bone and tooth structure make you a more viable representation of humanity? If so, YOU, in a rational world, will be more likely to pass those genes on to the next generation.

With successive generations the superior traits of "Homo Petrickus" will lead to them outcompeting "Homo Weakbonius" until such a time as the less competitive branch of humanity fades into extinction.

That is unless the environment is such that the superior bone hardness of "Homo Petrickus" does NOT provide any advantage. This can come in two ways, as I understand it. First, the mutation has advantages AND disadvantages. In the case of the harder, stronger, heavier bones of "Homo Petrickus," I believe it makes floating and swimming difficult, if not impossible? If that is the case, how commpetitive would that particular branch of humanity be in a community where the ability to swim is critical to human survival, such as a subsistence grade community of boat people?

The second is in an environment where external forces change the dynamic to reduce disadvantages. I'm not talking "Harrison Bergeron" here (although that may apply); I'm talking about how medical technology enables those with genetic disadvantages to correct the physical manifestations of whatever mutation they may have, even if they DO continue to pass that disadvantageous mutation down through their genetic line. Genetic disadvantages such as myopia; something that would prove a fatal disadvantage to a hunter/gatherer where the humans aren't the apex predators. It's something we can easily correct with laser lens sculpting, or just simply wearing glasses, so it's no longer a crippling disadvantage.

Lack of wisdom teeth is a mutation, but only if and when it becomes a competitive advantage or disadvantage will it become an evolutionary trait. My best guess is that it was at one time an evolutionary disadvantage (we humans, before discovering dental care, lost teeth on a pretty regular basis, and wisdom teeth were a last-ditch emergency replacement), but now?

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 06:14 pm: Edit

Jeffrey George Anderson:

In truth, I have mentioned before that when I am near "combat weight" (i.e., not up to 80 pounds above what the scientists say is my ideal weight) I have the flotation characteristics of a rock due to my heavier bones. I can only stay on the surface by constant motion and cannot (even in salt water) simply "float on my back." I am either swimming, or sinking. Actually, it is not as bad as a rock, since I do not sink as fast as a rock and it does not require excessive forward motion to remain above the surface. But in a set of fatigues and wearing combat boots, I am able to walk on the bottom of a pool like a deep sea diver.

I graduated a SCUBA course, and my "weight belt" consisted of the belt, a scabbard, and the knife. (Again, that was back when I was at "combat weight.") No lead weights were required, and indeed if I stopped swimming, I would sink to the bottom.

I am currently only about 20 pounds above my maximum combat weight, so, yes, if I am in the water, I will sink.

The "evolutionary advantage" is that damage that would break the average human's bones basically just bruises or tears my flesh. I am sure there are others like me elsewhere in the Gene Pool who will pass these traits along, but I will not. I have never married and am well aware that I do NOT have any unacknowledged progeny, thank you very much (this is truthful and said in all good nature, so do not take it as my being defensive).

I have been told that the loss of wisdom teeth has to do with the skull being modified to make more room for brain. I have no idea what the mechanism for that is, but will state for the record that I had thought (theory I had developed on my own) that the cause was our ability to cook food and use tools to break the bones of prey animals to get at the marrow had reduced the need for the leverage to crush and grind, thus leading to smaller jaws.

I think most humans are probably collections of good and bad genetic outcomes. For me, heavy bones and hard teeth, good, but I have a disability (beside my need for glasses) in that the blood vessels in my nose are very close to the surface and easily broken (comes from my mother's side of the family). The upshot is that I had to learn to "keep fighting" even when my nose was bleeding because a punch landing on my cheek (either one) will cause my nose to bleed, as will a really heavy sneeze. And I cannot see where that would ever be an "evolutionary advantage," but as noted it has been passed down through my mother's family.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 - 07:28 pm: Edit

Well, that is odd.

I went and looked up "wisdom teeth," and the data said that my supposition was correct, with the stipulation that the teeth were for better grinding plant materials, not meat or breaking bones, and that yes the prevalence of cooked foods had reduced the need. It made no mention of (and I swear I had seen this somewhere) the concept that jaws were getting smaller to accommodate the growth of the brain.

Maybe my memory is fading faster than I thought?

By Jason E. Schaff (Jschaff297061) on Thursday, September 19, 2019 - 05:50 pm: Edit

Dredging up stuff I learned 30 years ago in physical anthropology in college; IIRC it even gets more complicated than that.

Mammalian molars come in two varieties: pentacuspid and tricuspid, with tricuspid being smaller. Almost all humans have pentacuspid 1st and 2nd molars. For the 3rd molar, however, over the last 20,000-ish years or so tricuspid teeth have become increasingly common. Farther back than that, pentacuspid wisdom teeth were an almost universal norm.

It is at least partially a matter of available jaw space. Impacted wisdom teeth are definitely detrimental (even if only a little) to survival. Smaller wisdom teeth, or none at all, reduce the risk of this.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, September 19, 2019 - 06:18 pm: Edit

Let's see.

Genetic advantages: Heavy bones, relatively high tolerance to pain, relatively high tolerance of cold and heat (comfortable in shorts when others are wearing trousers and complaining of the cold, and comfortable in trousers when others are wearing shorts and complaining of the heat), relatively hard teeth set relatively tightly in the jaw.

Genetic disadvantages: Poor eyesight (glasses). Negatively buoyant. Failure to notice damage (been known to continue operating while blood is flowing from minor injuries and literally not been aware that I had sustained the injury). Difficult to floss (tight teeth). Nose bleeds easily. Shorter than average for birth cohort (okay, only by a 1/4 inch). Fat (okay, it was up to 255 at one point, but currently in the low 180s, but I have been told the upper limit of my weight in order to not be considered "fat" is 160). Allergic to onions, mushrooms, and peppers.

So, it seems that it is a good thing that my particular genetic make up is not being transmitted into future generations as there is obviously more negative than positive. So I have done my part for the betterment of the species!

By Steve Zamboni (Szamboni) on Thursday, September 19, 2019 - 07:08 pm: Edit

I've been told that my genetics have triggered two case studies and there were jokes about me getting my own syndrome at some point.

Everything was great until one of the advantages moved over into the disadvantage column and revealed why there aren't many of us around. Fortunately no kids so this branch of the tree ends with me.

By Shawn Hantke (Shantke) on Saturday, September 28, 2019 - 07:54 pm: Edit

Our Skulls Are Out-Evolving Us
A motley crew of scientists argue that our ever-shrinking skulls are wreaking havoc on our well-being:

https://onezero.medium.com/our-skulls-are-out-evolving-us-and-that-could-mean-a-public-health-crisis-f950faed696d

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Thursday, December 12, 2019 - 10:25 pm: Edit

SKYWATCH: Ambitious Sci-Fi Short run-time = 10:34


Garth L. Getgen

By Jon Murdock (Xenocide) on Friday, December 13, 2019 - 12:03 pm: Edit

Shawn:

Odd hypothesis but the causes they list for skulls developing are all environmental and not genetic. It is not evolution which makes their headline an odd choice.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Friday, December 13, 2019 - 06:18 pm: Edit

That SKYWATCH thing is cool.

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandor) on Saturday, December 14, 2019 - 10:30 am: Edit

Wow that would make a cool full movie in my thoughts.

By Stewart Frazier (Frazikar2) on Saturday, December 14, 2019 - 10:52 pm: Edit

SKYWATCH is a 'Nice prologue, what happens next' …

By Gregory S Flusche (Vandor) on Sunday, December 15, 2019 - 10:13 am: Edit

Well My wife says the boys need to be a bit older.

The Hero needs to get with the group that saved him. Then has to go save his friend.

Mind you the friend could end up brain washed and working for the Skywatch. While the other has to confront his friend.

Ah the twists that can be on the plots

By Kevin Howard (Jarawara) on Sunday, December 15, 2019 - 12:42 pm: Edit

Or this is the prologue, with the main movie set later on after the boy has grown up. Brainwashed friend is his nemesis, of course.

But let's face it - Hollywood would cast Sylvester Stallone as the young boy and Bruce Willis as his friend, and the two of them hand craft knives and bows from the jungle and ramrod their way through the movie before destroying Skynet... errr... Skywatch together.

Bonus if Arnold shows up to reprise his Terminator role.

By Michael Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Sunday, December 15, 2019 - 09:15 pm: Edit

I actually have a pic of the sign for Skynet in Manila.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Friday, March 27, 2020 - 10:07 am: Edit

J.R.R. Tolkien meets George Lucas


()


Garth L. Getgen

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Saturday, April 18, 2020 - 07:30 pm: Edit

A friend of my Father came by to visit today. Complained about having to clean/sanitize his cell phone constantly.

Ironically, also just watched last episode of TV series, "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." Subplot involved how Golgafrincham expelled useless 1/3 of its population in ark; got rid of hairdressers, mid-level managers, advertizing executives, and telephone sanitizers (among others) and lived at peace until wiped out by a virulent disease passed on by unsanitized telephones...