Since we're at the top of the food chain and that we have a pretty stable enviroment, do you think that there will be anymore changes to ourselves? What if something comes along and starts threatening the lives of those who are weaker?
2006-06-30 01:03:12 · 6 answers · asked by Southpaw 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Actually- just because we are at the top of the food chain doesn't mean that we aren't still subject to selection pressures. It is true that predation is one selection pressure that we no longer have to worry about, but disease is a selection pressure that we cant fully avoid.
While science has made tremendous progress in terms of preventing/curing "old-world" epidemics like polio and smallpox, new viruses and pathogens are constantly emerging through an evolutionary process of their own.... some diseases are such that they're only fatal to certain groups of people (for example, those with compromised immune systems), as well. So theoretically, if such a disease were to grow out of control, those groups of people would be selected against...
Also, culturally we're seeing that certain groups of people are reproducing more frequently and in greater numbers than others, while some populations have a negative birth rate. If these sort of culturally-based reproduction trends continue, it's logical to assume that humans will look significantly different in the future.
It is safe to argue that we as a species have broken free of most of the evolutionary constraints that were once upon us- but there are still some factors that limit our evolutionary fitness.
2006-06-30 06:50:01 · answer #1 · answered by Girl Biologist 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, definitely. All species are continuing to evolve. If for nothing else, the species evolves due to changes in the environment, including changes in other species.
For example, could be due ability to fight off new bacteria/viruses, potentially changes from carbon dioxide levels, etc.
By the way, 2 "trends" that have been tracked over the recent time frame is that people are getting taller and "getting older younger"...meaning having the ability to have children earlier in life. Note: these factors may also be somewhat dependent on social trends. (e.g. those mature sooner are more likely to have sex sooner and therefore more likely to have kids who are more likely to have kids sooner).
2006-06-30 08:11:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Humans as a race will continue to evolve to suit our environment, we have been evolving. If we were to grab a cave man and bring him into our time, he would probably die very quickly, We have become immune to certain things around us which would kill him outright, including modern day pollution, viruses and chemicals in the food chain.
2006-06-30 08:11:44 · answer #3 · answered by Robert B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Humans will forever evolve. Evolution is so suttle, that we won't see significant changes in our lifetime.
2006-06-30 08:13:27 · answer #4 · answered by madcan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh yeah, i dont know about you guys but ill definetly evolve and get some wings to fly!!!oh yeah
2006-06-30 08:06:46 · answer #5 · answered by The Prince of Laos 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not likely coz we are in control of everything in our physical, and we are the most effective animal ever.
2006-06-30 08:17:24 · answer #6 · answered by ehis man 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋