One evolutionary expert believes that the human race has stopped evolving. Modern life may have led to the extinction of natural selection. Here are some explanations for why we could be stuck with what we got:
- Technological and medical advances mean it's not just the fittest who get to pass on genes.
- World travel has helped homogenize the gene pool. While small gene pools can evolve quickly, a global pool prevents evolutionary change.
- On average, men have had babies at a younger age recently. The gene copies of younger fathers are less likely to contain mutations.
As you can imagine the end of evolution could bring wide, albeit delayed, consequences. Gorillas and chimps could catch up to us (we'd probably have to let them out of the zoos), and medical science won't get any help from nature in cutting down the number of diseases to combat. Perhaps technology will help humans take stalled evolution into our own hands, by letting us choose the genes we like.
Red Herring
Heine
Apepazza
It's going to be just like Planet of the Apes!
1I literally laughed out loud at this article, but it's actually pretty scary.
2IDIOCRACY... all signs point to go.
3This reminds me of Jurassic Park (the book) when the scientist guy is talking about the world getting smaller and how that stifles evolution. I think it's important to note that evolution doesn't always move in a positive direction; it is possible to evolve right out of existence. So the advent of modern medicine and modern society maybe just change the direction in which we evolve.
It's interesting to think about and hypothesize about, but we won't really see the effects of this in our lifetimes if it is indeed happening.
4Crrrrrrazy mental images right now. But while we're not evolving, bacteria IS! Soon I bet there will be something that totally wipes us out. And by soon I mean like way... way... after I die.....
5Gotta say, the headline suggested a far more exciting story.
I thought the last paragraph is what's happening now, that humans are working on continuing evolution through technology - while anyone can pass on their inferior genes, the very wealthy can pay to have their offspring genetically modified for 'perfection.'
6I would think that would have limited possibilities - what we'd think is perfect versus what nature would come up with - but that was the next big thing.
MM, I think I agree with what you're saying. It seems silly to say humans have stopped evolving when the very existence of modern society (and the changes in day to day life) forces people to adapt in different ways in order to survive. Furthermore, we still have disease and reproduction, etc. The mechanisms of evolution are still in place, so I don't see how evolution is going to stop, it will just move in a different direction.
7hmm... not only is this article presumptuous, but it just smacks of sociobiological rhetoric.
8Oh, and the idea of humans taking nature into their own hands to create 'perfect' people really scares me too. Do they really think they know better? The consequences of that are unimaginable.
9Estrelas, I have only a vague understanding of what you said, but it sounds really cool.
10Time for the fireworks.
11That's not going to go over well...
12It shouldn't.
13I think he looks kind of like a bird. Perhaps an eagle? I like eagles.
Maybe a turtle. I can't stand turtles.
14Election '08! The Turtle vs. Elmer Fudd!
15Show a little respect Michelin. It's the Tortoise.
16Stephley, sorry, perhaps I should clarify that.
The article seems to be written out of a framework of evolutionary determinism that I find, quite frankly, to be a very dangerous position. for example, the article is suggesting that there is an overarching aspect to 'human evolution', if you will, while ignoring broad ranges of possible identities and outcomes. It also is discriminatory against other species by suggesting that they are on the same 'trajectory' as us, implying some sort of unilineal evolution.
17I know that monkey comment was a joke, but I do take offense to that! Let's leave simians (excluding humans, of course) out of the debates thanks
18WOW- gutsie folks!
19Thank you for clarifying. I think I get what you're saying (I'm hearing short-sighted and chauvinistic) and though I could never articulate it, that sounds fair (if that's what you mean).
20lol...sounds to me like you got what I trying to say
21Holy smokes! It was a joke people! I never realized that how I think someone looks is offensive!
Guess I shouldn't tell my husband he's got monkey hair in the morning any more.
22I want to apologize to everyone that read that comment. I have a very twisted sense of humor, and while I personally saw nothing wrong with that, I understand that some of you did. I will keep my opinions on the mans looks to myself. His policies, now that's another story.
23Well given the nature at play I think stopped is an exaggeration change is an integral part of life and life doesn't stop even if the change is only happening on a molecular level. However the presence of daily challenges we would otherwise face with out modern conveniences would present the necessary challenges to spurn evolution in a more obvious manner. Reason would have it that under the circumstances evolution has slowed way way down for modern humans but I'm just not so sure I would say stopped.
24And it was just brought to my attention that "monkey" can be taken as a racial slur. I honestly have never EVER heard that, and when I said it was referring spefically to an actual primate, nothing else. Oh man, I really stepped in it and I am sooooo sorry everyone.
25Eh. No biggy. =) Let's move on.
26Hey Mykie, it's cool. It was an honest mistake, and everybody makes those! Don't worry too much about it.
27Bummer. I was hoping we would eventually evolve to the point where we wouldn't have to shave our legs, armpits, etc. anymore. I think it is still a definite possibility
28Thanks guys, I appreciate it. The more I thought about it, the worse I felt.
29I hope that this isn't the end for us. I'd like to believe that the best is yet to come.
30UnDave by the time that happens you and I will be ashes to ashes and dust to dust.
31Gorillas & chimps could "catch up to us"?
wow EPIC FAIL at science.
Humans DID NOT come from chimps. They are not "lesser evolved" humans, we simply share a common ancestor. Saying otherwise is a step back to the 19th century.. but even Darwin didn't believe such ridiculousness.
No humans are not evolving anymore.
But soon the AIDS epidemic will get out of hand or something equally atrocious and it'll knock out enough of the population so we will again.
Evolve or die!
32For Organic:
Fond regards,
Harmony
33I agree with hithatsmybike - the "gorillas and chimps could catch up to us" statement is ridiculous. We share a common ancester and are not on the same evolutionary path. I find it frustrating that there are people who still think that scientists believe humans evolved from "gorillas and chimps". It's simply not true.
34"Humans DID NOT come from chimps. They are not "lesser evolved" humans, we simply share a common ancestor."
THANK YOU! I too am tired of people misconstruing the mechanisms behind evolution.
35Man I must have missed something interesting on this one.
All you have to do is walk around and interact with people in DC for one day and you will come to the conclusion that humans have stopped evolving.
36Actually I take that back. There is a whole group of people that has a gene that causes them to walk through red lights while texting. Hopefully those people will be eliminated over the course of a few generations.
37I wouldn't say we've stopped evolving completely.
And I agree with a few of you, there are plenty of nasty bacteria and viruses in this world waiting to take us out. Humans need to evolve to combat them.
But we like quick answers to our problems, so we'll spend tons of money on preventive medicine!
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