An evolution question?

Question

Do you believe that animals (should they survive the test of time) will eventually evolve into highly intelligent beings (like humans)?
Wouldn't they have to in order to survive in the world we have shaped?

OR do you think that eventually humans will evolve (in a natural sense, instead of our current artificial adaptations) to fill the niches and gaps we create by forcing other animals into extinction?

Just general guidelines for a discussion, feel free to add any view you like (it dosn't have to be one or the other). ^_^

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AhLzgnst.s8nhPH7yrdnBiQezKIX?qid=20060908164412AA9VczX

For an additional (related) question on this topic.

Answer 1

Evolution has not been proved, therefore no.

Answer 2

I don't think either will happen. Humans are using up the 'intelligent species' ecological niche, so it would be unlikely for something like chimpanzees to develop intelligence. Also, it would probably not be beneficial for humans to evolve to fill the other ecological niches we are creating.

And, most importantly of all, human technology is reaching the point where we will alter ourselves and the world far faster than evolution ever could. By the time another few hundred years are up we will probably be almost unrecognizable. Whether or not other animals will still exist is up for debate; it's possible we would keep some alive in parks.

Answer 3

Generally speaking, once a species originates it doesn't actually "evolve" into anything -- it basically remains static (this isn't always true, but it's a "rule of thumb"). New species normally evolve from a (usually very small) group of individuals from the ancestor species that become so isolated that the small group can no longer breed with members of the much larger ancestor population. This allows natural selection to operate on the random mutations in the isolated group, resulting in a new species over a time span of a million years or so.

Humans are unique in that we are no longer subject to natural selection in the same way as other species. Our technology and culture allows us to live in environments that we could never inhabit normally (at least not with our current population); this began with the invention of agriculture and has continued ever since. Also, our increasing ability to manipulate our own genome (and the genomes of other species) means that we will probably develop the technology for "artificial selection", whereby we can create and manipulate our own genetic mutations. That will make the current controversy (at least in America) over stem cell research look like a tempest in a teapot.

Answer 4

Animals have already evolved into humans. You are an animal. Survival isn't necessarily about intelligence although that can be a factor. Look at humans for example, we are supposedly the most intelligent animals and yet we are dooming ourselves to extinction. Our selfish utilization of natural resource and pollution of the planet will be the end of our species. The world would be better off without us.

We are poorly adapted to situations outside of our civilized micro-world. We don't have the robust immune systems and digestive systems of most wild animals because we have not been letting natural selection take place. We use medial intervention to artificially prolong and enhance our lives. Without these things, we would not be at the top of the food chain so to speak.

Answer 5

Yes, they very well may, like in Planet of the Apes. People are more worried about artificial intelligence, and super computers taking over and thinking for themselves, but what about the animals? They may someday evolve into some highly intelligent being that will compete with humans.

But that probably won't happen in reality, as we will destroy ourselves long long long before that ever happens.

Answer 6

This is one of the most interesting questions I've ever seen in this forum. As an anthropologist, I'm afraid I'll have to say it's also one of the most unanswerable. We can, however, enjoy letting our imaginations run wild and conjure up countless answers to this question--but none of which can be proved. Ask this question again in several million years!

Answer 7

Natural biological evolution fails at all levels except for those species numbering more than about one quadrillion individuals with generation times less than three months and body sizes smaller than one centimeter.

Check out:
http://www.reasons.org/

Answer 8

Neither. We have reached an important and fairly stable plane in our existence. The only thing that might happen is that we may kill other animals off or they may die of other reasons.

Humans may not last up to the next phase of evolution.

Answer 9

I think that if animals survived long enought, they would evolve. Of course, none of us would be alive to see how they turned out, but I still wonder what kind of changes they would go through.

Answer 10

neither, since there is no evidence that animals nor humans have or are evolving then once can rightly assume evolution, like global warming, is a fictious farce.

Answer 11

Youve been watching doctor who havent you with the sisters of solitude in the first episode.