NationStates Jolt Archive

I was reading The Ancestor's Tale by Richard Dawkins today, and it's really got me thinking about not just where we as humans come from, but where we are heading, evolutionarily speaking. I was wondering if anyone on the forums would care to contribute their thoughts to hypothetical evolutionary trends in the evolution of homo sapiens. My thoughts so far have been sparse, but I've managed to come up with:
-Darker skin colouration (as racial mixing and UV radiation reaching the surface of the earth increases)
-Increased hairlessness (relative to the sexes)
-Increased lactose tolerance etc...
Just a thought, should any of you be interested in helping me compile a provisional list.
Cheers, mates!

i honestly don't believe humans will survive long enough to make any significant evolutionary change.
i mean, if there's still a coherent body of individuals calling themselves humans in a thousand years, i'd be surprised.

I'd say:

- Larger brains, hence larger skulls, hence larger birth canals, hence larger female hips.
- Normalisation of skin colour.
- Lower levels of fertility due to overpopulation.
- Loss of fingernails - archaic built in weapons.

Now, people aren't going to like me for this, but this is also another possibility:

People with less education/less intelligence tend to have more children than those with higher intelligence/better education, hence passing on their genes/cultural avoidance of education onto their children. This means that humans may split into two species - "intelligent" and "not-so-intelligent", since intermingling between the two groups is in general extremely limited.

Will there be much evolution in human? I ask becuase we've allready effectively bitch slapped Natural Selection out of the equation thanks to modern medicine and the like. This means that even the weak of the species can and are passing on their DNA which could result in a weakening of the species. If so then I predict that most of us will have asthma in the future, bad eyesight/hearing, low IQs and (*shudder*) ginger hair (joke)...

Will there be much evolution in human? I ask becuase we've allready effectively bitch slapped Natural Selection out of the equation thanks to modern medicine and the like. This means that even the weak of the species can and are passing on their DNA which could result in a weakening of the species. If so then I predict that most of us will have asthma in the future, bad eyesight/hearing, low IQs and (*shudder*) ginger hair (joke)...

We could always cheat and genetically engineer our offspring.

We could always cheat and genetically engineer our offspring.

I'm game for some of that.
*Hunts around for syringe*

We could always cheat and genetically engineer our offspring.
Considering the lengthy timeline required to make any evolutionary step, I'd say this is the most likely candidate for any real change occuring in our species.

I have to say that I am overall rather pleased with the group that has, thus far, responded. The answers you all have come up with, especially Promonkians, have all been pretty much what I expected. I've been thinking that lower IQ's (because of the "weaker" members of the population being able to breed) poor vision (no offence due to those who wear glasses) lowered fertility etc..are all going to be pretty much the phenotypical norm for any future humans, or, as Greyenivol colony has pointed out, should we live long enough to produce any real genetically different species.

I'd say:

- Larger brains, hence larger skulls, hence larger birth canals, hence larger female hips.
- Normalisation of skin colour.
- Lower levels of fertility due to overpopulation.
- Loss of fingernails - archaic built in weapons.

Now, people aren't going to like me for this, but this is also another possibility:

People with less education/less intelligence tend to have more children than those with higher intelligence/better education, hence passing on their genes/cultural avoidance of education onto their children. This means that humans may split into two species - "intelligent" and "not-so-intelligent", since intermingling between the two groups is in general extremely limited.

I agree that the intelligence/high breed rate will lead to an increase of stupidity within the population, but I disagree with your conclusion which is based on limited intermingling between the two groups of people. I think opposites attract! And that therefore the entire race will be diluted with intelligence becoming an increasingly rare commodity within the genepool.

I dont really think we will go any further. The mechanism of evolution, natural selection, is dead in the human race, at least in western culture. People with genetic problems are nowadays kept alive through modern medicine and, through having children, keep their genes in the gene pool. The fittest are no longer the only ones surviving.

I dont really think we will go any further. The mechanism of evolution, natural selection, is dead in the human race, at least in western culture. People with genetic problems are nowadays kept alive through modern medicine and, through having children, keep their genes in the gene pool. The fittest are no longer the only ones surviving.

Oh, natural selection will still, always, have an effect as long as people die and are born. It's just that the rules of "fitness" are changing. "Fit" genes are simply those which survive to reproduce and become more numerous within a population. So if genetic problems become more rampant, as you say (I do not think so personally) it will simply be that those individuals are now more "fit" by evolutionary standards.

I think that our brains will expand and we will gradually learn to use a larger percentage of our brains' capabilities.

Oh, natural selection will still, always, have an effect as long as people die and are born. It's just that the rules of "fitness" are changing. "Fit" genes are simply those which survive to reproduce and become more numerous within a population. So if genetic problems become more rampant, as you say (I do not think so personally) it will simply be that those individuals are now more "fit" by evolutionary standards.

Historically, the fittest have been those who can best cope with thier environment. What I'm saying is that these days people are protected from the environment by medicine and urbanisation.

We will become darker skinned and less hairy because of the warming enviroment. We will grow a sixth finger because of our increased useage of our hands to manipulate small things, like keys on a keyboard. We will become taller as a result of our changing diet and we will start to have a shorter lifespan. Our sense of smell will weaken and our eyes will change to see in diffrent spectrum of light.

I'd say:

- Larger brains, hence larger skulls, hence larger birth canals, hence larger female hips.
- Normalisation of skin colour.
- Lower levels of fertility due to overpopulation.
- Loss of fingernails - archaic built in weapons.

Now, people aren't going to like me for this, but this is also another possibility:

People with less education/less intelligence tend to have more children than those with higher intelligence/better education, hence passing on their genes/cultural avoidance of education onto their children. This means that humans may split into two species - "intelligent" and "not-so-intelligent", since intermingling between the two groups is in general extremely limited.


Just remember that the discover of Homo Florensis has shown us once and for all that brain size does not say anything bout intelligence. What matters is how the brain is wired.

- Loss of fingernails - archaic built in weapons.

Not quite, at this point they've evolved into more of a last ditch protection system for the tips of our fingers.

Men will lose their nipples and foreskin.

Men will lose their nipples and foreskin.

You know... you should run for public office, because that would make a GREAT campaign slogan!

We are not going to evolve naturally anymore. We shape the enviorment, it no longer shapes us. Frankly, mankind will start evolving inversely, more birth defects, more diabetes, more (insert-gene-related-problem-of-your-choice). that is, unless we do something radical. Begin some serious reserch and use of the reserch on the human genome so we can alter (i.e. eliminate) those traits.

It shall be our choices the ones that will make (or unmake) mankind.

I'd say:

- Larger brains, hence larger skulls, hence larger birth canals, hence larger female hips.

Unlikely, you'd be more likely to see increased brain growth after birth. Less stress on the mother for the same overall result.

- Normalisation of skin colour.

Why? Unless you have people living indoors all the time there is little reason for that type of change.

- Lower levels of fertility due to overpopulation.

We already only have single births, lowered fertility rates then what we 'naturally' have would only hurt the species in case of problems. Plus I don't know of any species that that has actually occured in. All species purposly try to overpopulate their niche.

- Loss of fingernails - archaic built in weapons.

They weren't built in weapons, primates use nails to help with grip and climbing. That's why all apes have them and not claws.

Now, people aren't going to like me for this, but this is also another possibility:

People with less education/less intelligence tend to have more children than those with higher intelligence/better education, hence passing on their genes/cultural avoidance of education onto their children. This means that humans may split into two species - "intelligent" and "not-so-intelligent", since intermingling between the two groups is in general extremely limited.

You'd need to find some way to stop all gene flow between 2 populations for anything close to two 'species' coming out. Plus intelligence seems to be based on so many different factors including early nutrition let alone genes so I mean I GUESS it could happen....


Naginah

We are not going to evolve naturally anymore. We shape the enviorment, it no longer shapes us. Frankly, mankind will start evolving inversely, more birth defects, more diabetes, more (insert-gene-related-problem-of-your-choice). that is, unless we do something radical. Begin some serious reserch and use of the reserch on the human genome so we can alter (i.e. eliminate) those traits.

It shall be our choices the ones that will make (or unmake) mankind.

*nods in agreement*

CRAZED PSYCHONAUT FUTURE HUMANS with SIXTY THREE eyes and fourteen webbed TOEZ and HUGE BONY PROTRUSIONS used for RITUAL COMBAT and EXTRA LARGE LIVERS for imbibing CARCINOGENIC LAKEWATER, not to mention BIG FUNKY HAIR up to your EYEBALLS, MAN!!!

We will grow a sixth finger because of our increased useage of our hands to manipulate small things, like keys on a keyboard.

Hm, maybe. I think a second thumb on each hand would be more likely, considering how much more we're using that digit compared to previous generations.

CRAZED PSYCHONAUT FUTURE HUMANS with SIXTY THREE eyes and fourteen webbed TOEZ and HUGE BONY PROTRUSIONS used for RITUAL COMBAT and EXTRA LARGE LIVERS for imbibing CARCINOGENIC LAKEWATER, not to mention BIG FUNKY HAIR up to your EYEBALLS, MAN!!!

HELL YEAH!!!

P.S. Can you give me a clue as to how to pronounce your name?

evolution? blasphemy!!!

that aside i bet we lose our sharp teeth.

CRAZED PSYCHONAUT FUTURE HUMANS with SIXTY THREE eyes and fourteen webbed TOEZ and HUGE BONY PROTRUSIONS used for RITUAL COMBAT and EXTRA LARGE LIVERS for imbibing CARCINOGENIC LAKEWATER, not to mention BIG FUNKY HAIR up to your EYEBALLS, MAN!!!
Care to explain the extensive scientific reasoning behind this, sir?

HELL YEAH!!!

P.S. Can you give me a clue as to how to pronounce your name?

Moe + gla ("glad" minus D) + jer ("chair" with a J) + hamish + berg + enha (like "Enya")

Mogla-jerhamish-bergenha. Just don't try to say it too fast or your hair will fall out. Our forefathers invented the name in order to confuse potential enemies; the theory being that no one would believe such a strangely named country could even exist, let alone be worth invading.




CRAZED PSYCHONAUT FUTURE HUMANS with SIXTY THREE eyes and fourteen webbed TOEZ and HUGE BONY PROTRUSIONS used for RITUAL COMBAT and EXTRA LARGE LIVERS for imbibing CARCINOGENIC LAKEWATER, not to mention BIG FUNKY HAIR up to your EYEBALLS, MAN!!!

Care to explain the extensive scientific reasoning behind this, sir?

NATURE doesn't need a REASON, man... but, trust me, it's all makes perfect sense. Our future earth will have dark sooty skies and shallow seas from melted ice-caps.

Multiple eyes were needed to see into various colour ranges, including ultraviolet and infrared, to compensate for low light levels and airborne particulates. Special receptors evolved, allowing multiple eyes to operate together as a kind of natural interferometer and spectroscope, thus enabling the organism to analyze atmospheric composition for the presence of toxic dust or gases. One theory also proposes that some of the numerous eyes seem to be a response to generations of Photoshop users, who developed separate eyes for specific PANTONE colour ranges--although this is only speculation, and implies the eyes are vestigal--as computers no longer existed after the great flood.

The main reason for the numerous eyes seems to be an adaptation to the ritual combat behaviour of the neo-human species, which involves a lot of eye poking. They do the eye-poking using the bony protrusions that they also use for hunting the great formica-backed seal pups which are the favourite food of the neo-humans. Because the formica-backed seals live in the shallow, salty oceans of the globally warmed earth, the neo-human species also developed huge feet with numerous webbed toes, to act as flippers when hunting or frolicking in the warm waters, or when poking each other's eyes out while at sea.

Livers evolved to filter pollutants out when drinking from lakes, the only sources of fresh, if contaminated, water. The big funky hair hides the eyes, making them harder to gouge--but it's mainly just for show... because the future may be many things, but it's definitely FUNKY!

:D

<snip some stuff I don't agree with>

Now, people aren't going to like me for this, but this is also another possibility:

People with less education/less intelligence tend to have more children than those with higher intelligence/better education, hence passing on their genes/cultural avoidance of education onto their children. This means that humans may split into two species - "intelligent" and "not-so-intelligent", since intermingling between the two groups is in general extremely limited.
This part makes sense to me.

Remember evolution is caused by both natural and sexual selection, so for example we probably aren't going to lose hair or front teeth or grow a sixth finger (unless our mates are very open-minded).