Stated within their online article in the 'Journal of Theoretical Biology,' the Duke researchers explain that most bacteria within the human body helps to digest food and perform other good jobs. Sometimes, however, these bacteria die or are killed. Thus, it is the job of the appendix to store and replenish these good bacteria. Without the appendix in the body, these Duke University researchers theorize that the body could be injured or killed from any of a number of diseases such as cholera or dysentery.

However, they also contend that in modern industrialized countries, people do not need the appendix as much as do people in less developed countries because they can easily pick up bacteria from outside the body. They caution that the appendix still needs to be removed when it becomes inflamed because it can cause death in humans.

Although their theory has not been verified, other researchers favor their explanation of the purpose of the appendix over other theories.  Additional research will be performed to verify these claims.

This article is based off of the Associated Press article by Seth Borenstein entitled "Your Appendix Has a Reason After All."


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