I just learned last year the appendix has something to do with gut flora and fauna. I've been researching as a health tool for myself how to reestablish healthy gut flora and fauna because of fibromyalgia. I also read alzheimers and Parkinson's are linked to gut bacteria....my research also has run into epigenetics and gut flora and fauna. http://www.vib.be/en/news/Pages/Link-between-Alzheimer’s-and-gut-bacteria.aspx