Scientists Say We’re Still Evolving — Here’s the Evidence That Some Humans Are Exhibiting More Uncommon Body Parts

When you think of human evolution, you probably think of an event that happened thousands of years ago, where we evolved from an ape species to multiple other human species, before Homo Sapiens were born on this world.

However, that is the wrong way to think of it, because evolution is still happening everywhere around us. It is also not a singular, straightforward event, but rather a branching process that led to the formation of the world we know today.

You would probably want to ask if humans are still evolving, what are the things that are currently changing, and how is it affecting us. Let’ start off with a few new body parts that we are developing as a species.

The Fabella: A New Knee Bone

Recent research published in the National Library of Medicine showcases that a small sesamoid bone called the fabella, which is located behind our kneecaps, has become about 3.5 times more common in the last 120 years.

Back in 1900, only about 7.6% of humans had them, but now it is up to 31%. This is a bone that is so rare in primates like apes thousands of years ago, and early humans did not have them either. However, the modern Homo Sapiens are increasingly having a fabella, a sign of continuous evolution.

The reason why is not exactly determined yet, but some theories are about humans increasingly walking upright over the last thousand years or so, or even other evolutionary adaptations that we are not currently aware of.

Read more: National Library of Medicine

Forearms with Extra Arteries

Are Humans Still Evolving?

Another surprising change is the increase in the presence of the median artery in adults. It is a structure located in the forearms of fetuses and is usually lost before birth. Only about 10% in the 1880s had them, compared to today, where 30–35% of the population have retained them to adulthood.

Researchers have also estimated that by the year 2100, most people will have this new feature, an extra artery, and a sign of ongoing micro-human evolution. Scientists said this evolutionary trait could offer benefits such as increased blood flow in forearms and hands, and could allow Doctors to graft during some procedures.

Read more: Eureka Alert

Wisdom Teeth and Jaw Changes

Some of you reading this have probably encountered having your wisdom teeth removed because they generate pain. The good news is that through evolution, many people born today do not have wisdom teeth. Our jaws are also becoming smaller, especially in babies.

This trend is not by chance; it is happening because we are adapting to the current environment and challenges, or lack thereof. We do not need wisdom teeth anymore, so their removal from more and more infants is our body’s way of reflecting our genetic adaptation and dietary lifestyles.

This is a perspective that is not currently 100% scientifically accepted, which simply means that scientists are still studying the direct links between all the factors. However, we know that our ancestors used those teeth and larger jaws to chew on harder foods compared to our processed, softer diet, which most likely causes these changes in our bodies.

Read more: Big Think

Evolution in Real Time

Our bodies are not static, and there is a big probability that humans today are different than the humans 100,000 years ago, and will also be different than the humans 100,000 years into the future.

This is because we are an evolutionary creature, a species that will adapt and change based on environmental pressures, lifestyle changes, and ultimately our needs for survival.

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Author's Final Thoughts

Evolution is not just a story of the past. From the fabella, a new knee bone, to extra arteries and jaw changes, we are currently experiencing evolution even today.

It is not necessarily good or bad, but it is our body’s way of adapting to the changes we have made in our modern living. We have to understand that this evolutionary process is not done, and it will actively rewrite our own biology.

Read more: Scientists Say Our Brains Are 13% Smaller Than They Were 100,000 Years Ago

References & Further Reading

Berthaume, M. A., Di Federico, E., & Bull, A. M. J. (2019). Fabella prevalence rate increases over 150 years, and rates of other sesamoid bones remain constant: a systematic review. Journal of Anatomy. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12994

Berthaume, M. A. (2020). Human biological variation in sesamoid bone prevalence: the curious case of the fabella. Journal of Anatomy. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13091

Lucas, T., Kumaratilake, J., & Henneberg, M. (2020). Recently increased prevalence of the human median artery of the forearm: a microevolutionary change. Journal of Anatomy. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13224

Townsend, C. B., et al. (2022). A prospective evaluation of the prevalence of persistent median artery in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery. https://doi.org/10.22038/abjs.2022.62358.3042

Ellis, C., et al. (2025). Prevalence and anatomical significance of the persistent median artery. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0320288