Does the appendix have a function in modern humans, are people without an appendix worse or better off?

Question

Does the appendix have a function in modern humans, are people without an appendix worse or better off?

In: 9

Answer 1

Yes, but not often needed in Western societies. It acts as a reservoir of ‘healthy’ bacteria when you get a gut infection that wipes out your gut flora. Now, it’s really useful for things like dysentery and cholera, but those are uncommon in Western society. Where it is useful is when a person takes antibiotics. That wipes out gut microbes, too. Then the appendix helps in recovery.