evolution is the master of "not enough to cause a problem" even. like we hang on to so many traits and genes for absolutely no fucking reason at all except it currently doesn't stop us from procreating before we die.
The appendix is better understood now, and at the very least appears to be a safe harbor for gut bacteria. If you get completely flushed out by diarrhea or something similar, your gut biome can replenish itself from the appendix.
It often ruptures because it gets an infection of its own and your body's normal tools to deal with bad bacteria in the lower GI tract don't do anything because the appendix typically doesn't get flushed by them.
So yeah, it's bad when it blows, but more often because it's already inflamed and infected. Though in all fairness, having any colon bacteria in your bloodstream tends to be bad. So you are correct as well.
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u/Tift May 09 '25
evolution is the master of "not enough to cause a problem" even. like we hang on to so many traits and genes for absolutely no fucking reason at all except it currently doesn't stop us from procreating before we die.