Through Evolution, could humans eventually grow wings?

Question

I was debating this with my friend. He says it is very possible because those single cell creatures had to become birds somehow. I don't interpret evolution that way. For this to happen, some human would have to miraculously be born with wings, then he would have to procreate a whole bunch of times and have babies with wings who would then procreate again... and what are the chances of that? First the wings would have to functional and not just bizarre appendages coming out of his back. They would have to be able to carry on to the next generation. And most importantly, someone would have to mate with him.

What do you think?

Answer 1

Evolution is the process of Natural Selection, whereby a creature evolves a certain trait that gives it an advantage of some kind. Only those that actually are beneficial in some way will survive to breed and pass on that trait.

For humans, I suppose that it is theoretically possible, but I would say highly unlikely if life continues as it is now. We are intelligent enough to fly without wings (airplanes etc.) so this would be a superfluous appendage. Not to mention that passing that trait on would require offspring - would you sleep with someone with wings????

Much more likely would be more agile hands (perhaps another thumb), a larger brain or complete loss of body hair (we can manufacture our own clothes, so hair's not really a major requirement).

Answer 2

It's impossible to predict the changes to the environment and the consequence evolutionary adaptations that present day species will undergo in the future.

It is perfectly possible that present day humans will evolve into creatures with wings, although on the basis of present day human behaviour and human interaction with our environment (not to mention our modification of our own environment) I can't see that such an evolutionary adaptation is likely.

The only other point I would make is that if our descendants grew wings, the associated evolutionary changes would mean we could in no way be called human - the descendants would be a different species. We'd be as different as birds are from the small carnivorous dinosaurs from which they evolved.

Answer 3

I don't think we would.....I think we are past that stage of evolution. I'm confident that even if we did start doing something that required us to fly, we would just become extinct before we could develop wings. There is a general misconception in evolution that a species changes because of its environment. What really happens is that the environment changes, and some of the individuals of that species happen to have a random mutation in their genome that becomes beneficial, thus allowing them to survive better. I do not think that any humans would have that advantage. Also birds evolved from reptiles, which I'm pretty sure become separated from our lineage eons ago.

Answer 4

wings wouldnt grow out of our backs, our arms would turn into a set of wings. birds dont have a set of hand, the wings are their hands. Humans would theoretically be able to turn their hands into wings, but it is highly unlikely because we use them for other purposes too much.

Look at bats. thats what our wings would look like. since it wouldnt happen naturally cause wings instead of hands would be a disadvantage to humans, it would have to be staged. you would have to breed humans with slightly webbed fingers together( they do exist) until the webbing gets bigger. at the same time as developing the webbing, you would also have to incorporate people with longer fingers, and also possibly with shorter arms. after thousands of generations of this, you will have a human with wings. in order to be able to fly with those wings, you would also have to add in the other factors for flight. lighter people with wings (i.e smaller and less bone density, combine the 2) will fly better than heavier people. stronger arm muscles will fly better than weaker ones. keep incorporating all of these factors into it and after millions of years, people can evolve functional wings. just as early birds glided more than flew, humans would too until full flight developed. the trick is selective breeding to get the traits you want until the desired effect happens. or if you have the genetic know how, genetic engineers could do it in a lab in years opposed to millenia

Answer 5

Actually....if we suddenly started jumping out of trees (something involving air flight).....EVENTUALLY over generations and generations (talking millions of years here).....our bodies would adapt to make the fall from the tree less traumatic...possibly developing wings...or like the flying squirrel that has a web between its front legs to allow it to glide from tree to tree.

So yes it is possible but our bodies would have to find a need for the wings. In evolution if you dont use it, you loose it.

Answer 6

Not unless our surounding required it to survive. Darwin proved that a species will evolve the capabiltiys neccesary for survial in their current enviroment; or die. Its Survival of the Fittest. Though i doubt very much that Homo Sapians would evolve wings even if our enviroment required it for survival. Evolution gave us an even greater tool: Intelligence.

Answer 7

i think evolution is a theory that hasn't been proved. i think it's something that although the schools teach it, it's fairly naive. i personally don't believe in it...but i don't judge those who do. *hug* have a great day/night..wherever you are. God bless you and take care!

Answer 8

Not unless man need to take flight for our survival.

Answer 9

Who know, but anything is possible. Look at the past!!!

Answer 10

anythings possible, but it has to be useful to happen