2006-08-25 02:29:03 · 25 answers · asked by dave c 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Someone already mentioned medical technology as an interfering factor in evolution, so I will not touch on that. But it is a valid point.
Actually, the process of evolution requires a finite, isolated population. While the human population is not infinite, it is effectively large enough to stagnate evolution. And with world travel as easy as it is, there are almost no isolated populations.
I think others have mentioned this already, jokingly, but think the only possible for of evolution would be in the form of some cataclysmic event that wiped out a large portion of the species according to some genetic criterion. This is referred to as an evolutionary bottleneck (only some make it through, and all the individuals that make it through share some genetic trait(s) in common). This would not be something like nuclear war, as there are no genes that can make someone more or less susceptible to the blast of a nuclear bomb. There could be an evolutionary bottleneck in the remaining population if there are genes that make some people more resistant to radiation or cancer. If a disease wipes out 90-99% of the population, but some portion of the population happens to be immune or have some type of resistance, that also would be an example of an evolutionary bottleneck.
However, that doesn't include the introduction of any new genes, just the limiting of the genes that survive. Of course, then this smaller population may again be subject to evolution over time, depending on the situation...
2006-08-25 05:55:40 · answer #1 · answered by Jason O 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As others have said: evolution does not progress in steps, it progresses slowly and all species are constantly evolving, although some evolve so slowly that you may for practical purposes consider them static. Apart from the evolution of individual species, species can become extinct, the degree of genetic equilibrium of a species can decrease towards subspeciation, or it can increase towards elimination of subspecies boundaries.
The latest article that I saw about ongoing evolution was about HIV becoming less virulent. That makes sense. It's in the interest of the virus to keep it's host alive and sexually active.
2006-08-25 11:31:51 · answer #2 · answered by helene_thygesen 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I thought that humans were evolving all the time, or at least genes are continuously mutating. So the next step in our own evolution is probably already happening and no doubt it's something pathetically small, like becoming immune to some form of bacteria we haven't even discovered yet.
2006-08-25 10:26:57 · answer #3 · answered by Katri-Mills 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well Dave, I think that the next step will be a growning honesty in scientific community that evolution does not exist, that it never has and never will. There may natural selection but one species turning into another species that cannot interbreed with the first.
There is so much more evidence for intelligent design than there is for random mutations that change species. It doesn't matter to me what your view is of the "intelligent" who did the designing but I am sure that an open examination of whether or not intelligent design is possible or probable will lead to your abandonment of an old fashioned, illogical and widely discredited theory.
2006-08-25 09:59:23 · answer #4 · answered by zpom 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Man is a very, very young species. The "homo sapient" was just born, a few seconds (universal time) ago.
As sf lover I would say first step in evolution will be something so simple, that no one will pay attention to.
If evolution proceeds by erratic hazards, how can you think of it?
Lets hope that the evolution will change the Homo sapient, sapient, in homo peace full sapiens.
2006-08-25 09:48:03 · answer #5 · answered by alcáçovas 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Lungs that can cope with the lack of oxygen brought about the lack of photoplankton in the sea.....It's either that or we will become extinct, All these enviromentalists fail to mention that this uis the biggest threat to mankind that we are facing at the moment, 75% of our oxygen comes from plankton in the sea it can only breed at a certain temperature, with the ice caps melting, the sea is warming and the plankton is not breeding.....we are in trouble.
2006-08-25 09:40:12 · answer #6 · answered by David 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think it will most likely be 'cyborg' stuff.
Technology has moved at lightning pace compared to natural evoluton, so with proper application of nano technology, cloning/dna, and robotics, it should soon be possible to integrate ouselves with machines and custom-build repairs and improvements to our bodies.
If the government spent half the money on scientific r&d that it does on meddling in foreign affairs and subsidising the 'layabout' segments of the population, we'd probably already be there.
2006-08-25 09:36:45 · answer #7 · answered by le_coupe 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Evolution does not support punctuated equilibrium, so there is no step wise motion. Evolution is continuous, not graded.
It doesn't work like that...It is very hard to judge where it is going.
2006-08-25 09:39:16 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
humans arent evolving any more, we keep giving c sections etc, so childeren that should have never been born, are born, slowley but surely, the human race will get sicker, and more deformed, as we live longer, and find out how to cure more and more. the next evolution, will be the extermination of the sick and stupid, to get real evoulution back on track..
2006-08-25 09:35:37 · answer #9 · answered by yeah well 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Ability to cope with weather extremes, a hotter climate for sure.
Humans may not evolve though, as we will use technology to combat challenges in our environment.
2006-08-25 09:37:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋