Is this the end of human evolution?

Question

Now that medical science has advanced to a level where many of the most deadly diseases are at the very least treatable, do you think that the 'survival of the fitest' no longer applies to the human race?

Other examples of where medicine has ousted evolution are:
Very pre-term babies now survive in greater numbers
Some extremely virulent diseases have been virtually wiped out (smallpox, etc..)
Greater longevity.

Also, a greater generational gap with people leaving having babies until much later in life could lead to at least a slowing down of the evolutionary process.

In short, is the human race doomed to stay as it is now that we can keep the weak alive? I'm not advocating abandoning all ill people, I just thought it was a interesting idea.

No, no, no. You're missing the point. Without natural wastage you have no survival of the fittest. Ergo, no evolution no future - this is as best as it gets.

Mack Man - I do not believe that we haver reached evolutionary perfection, far from it. My proposition is that we have 'evolved' into a dead end. There is no imperative to survive - certainly in western culture - and evolution is about survival. Women nolonger look for men who will father fit children and be a good hunter. And men likewise. The need to be selective has ceased to be. Breeding is now a matter of choice, not survival.

Answer 1

This is true. But dont forget that the thread of a virus that will not be controlled is always a thread/ key to an evolution. Nevertheless, we constantly evolve. Although we have less chances than our ancestors, the possibility always exists. We may have changed nature, but we will never manage to stop it from evolution. And below the civilization, there is always nature. So, our evolution is inevitable.

Answer 2

There are plenty of things we still struggle with. Cancer for instance. Althought there are controls for AIDS and Herpes, neither is curable. Or the bird flu. Viruses mutate as a means of survival.

I don't think anyone really understands what mechanisms actually result in evolutionary changes. If global warming and holes in the ozone continue, I hope that life on earth can at least evolve to keep up with changes. No one can predict what else the future might hold. Evolving to deal with the changes of space flight or low gravity environments perhaps?

Basically, your question is predicated on the impression that you have that we've solved all the problems we as living things face. In fact this may be one of the great failures of our existence; the belief that we have solved all our issues. That implies perfection with is both scientifically and theologically not possible.

Answer 3

Of course "survival of the fittest" still applies today. Why do you think millions of Africans are dying as a result diseases such as AIDS. They do not have the luxury of having medical cures and treatments for various illnesses readily available as do many countries around the world. Educated people have developed medicine which is available to those who are fit to afford it and as a result prolong their life and survive as a people.

Answer 4

All biological beings evolve on a constant basis.... some quicker than others, some very very slow.

Horseshoe Crabs have evolved very slow over millions of years while frogs in the bayous of the southern delta have had measurable evolution in the past 100 years.

Until this planet explodes into a fiery ball of death.... evolution of mankind in some shape will continue... hopefully for the better.

Answer 5

But the thing that has made humans so successful is only partly due to physical ability. Our mental abilities are probably more important in terms of our success and survival, and in that case your question could have a different focus. It seems more complicated then because almost everything we 'know' has been communicated to us by others (not by our genes). And this seems much worse than the concern you bring up, because it's much easier and faster for us to lose our cultural knowledge than to lose by the genetic process. I like your question because it means you are helping to keep us from going extinct from creeping stupidity!

Answer 6

You are neglecting to take the entire human population into consideration. Who has the medicine? Who has the technology to fight diseases? Humanity is always staring at catastrophe and natural selection still plays a key role in our progression.

Answer 7

Mankind is not the result of evolution. We are the result of Creation and we have been given dominion over the fish in the sea, the birds of the air and everything that walks on the earth. Read the first few chapters in Genesis. God gave us brains to use. It is up to us to determine how we will use them.

Answer 8

disease, over population and chance earth disasters will determine which humans live. we are no longer under the "Natural" selection pressures that were around 100000 years ago. Our superior consiousness has changed the survival balance among species, but really, we know not what we do.

Answer 9

I am real positive that as a race, we still have a ton of evolving to accomplish. I'd hate to think this was the best we could do.

Answer 10

Imagine you have a time machine and you go forward 100,000 years. The people you meet will seem strange and different. Now go forward a million years. What you find there will blow your mind, I guarantee it. And they will regard you as some very strange creature.