Can humans evolve to not require vitamin B12?

skhande2

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Can humans evolve to not require vitamin b12 in future generations?

If we stop taking vitamin b12, after generations, could our body adapt to function without it?
 
  • Disagree
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Evolution does not work like that.
Rapid changes can occur if there is a mutation that has an evolutionary advantage. Like lactose tolerance.
Slower changes can occur when a trait has an evolutionary advantage one way or another. Like bigger and stronger.

B12 is so important, and it has so many different roles, and the way it's absorbed is sort of complicated too. Plus it is required in such small quantities. I can't envision a way for not needing it to be an evolutionary advantage. Or a mechanism that would make it obsolete. But maybe that is just a failure of imagination.

A more likely scenario is that vegans who refuse to take B12 supplements will become extinct. ;)
 
No.
B12 deficiency can cause irreversible, permanent, nerve damage. The common story of vegan babies dying is from them not having b12 from invitro, or not being supplemented after birth.
B12 stays in your system for years without supplementation, however when it runs out, you can soon be in trouble. Vegans would not survive long enough for any change to occur, and would reverse so much progress we have long fought for in making plant based diets mainstream
 
Yes..many would die..but those would survive probably wouldn't need it and evolution would take place? lol
 
I'm sure it will be possible in the future to genetically engineer humans so we don't need B12 in our diet but instead get it from bacteria in our intestines like some animals do. It'll be a brave new world for vegans :)
 
I'm sure it will be possible in the future to genetically engineer humans so we don't need B12 in our diet but instead get it from bacteria in our intestines like some animals do. It'll be a brave new world for vegans :)

Probably not. maybe an implant that gets replaced once a year, tho