• Question: Why didn't humans evolve through allergies?

    Asked by mazzie10 to Damien, Rachael, Suzi, Tim on 22 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 22 Jun 2011:

      Hi @mazzie10
      Great question!
      I’m afraid I don’t know why we haven’t evolved to get rid of allergies. Some people suggest that as we have got cleaner and more hygienic, we have actually become MORE susceptible to allergies, as there used to be bacteria which would protect us against allergies. So it’s only recently that allergies have really been a problem for us, too soon to have evolved away.

      Also, even now that allergies can be a problem, you’re not more likely to be unable to pass on your genes if you have allergies, so there’s no reason that we will evolve them out any time soon either! They would only disappear if people without allergies were more likely to have children than people with allergies.

      Hope this answers your question 🙂

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