Transportation techniques mean that we are all potential part of a global breeding pool. This would seem to ensure that the basic human set of genes is perpetuated.
Given that evolution requires seperation, adaptation and selection do we now need barriers of our own creation (race, religion or political) to evolve?
Furthermore do we need to evolve?
2006-10-19 08:13:26 · 4 answers · asked by Edit_Cat 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
There was never a "need" to evolve -- evolution is simply random mutations that get selected to continue in an organism as a result of external forces.
I'd agree with you that there are less *natural* pressures for human evolution now than in the distant past, since many things that would have selected out large segments of our population naturally (disease and changing environments are big ones) are now more under the control of our intellect and society than just left up to chance.
However, there are still considerable pressures -- new viruses (HIV, Avian Flu), global warming, etc. *can* still favor a certain set of genes that have success facing these challenges over ones that don't, as long as we don't find intellectual ways to deal with them. I don't think it's necessary for us to invent artificial conditions to further our evolution, nature will still throw us plenty of challenges.
2006-10-19 08:21:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It would seem that since the current human population is so large and interconnected, that evolution will not be likely to occur in any meaningful way. Of course, if a future calamity befalls the human race the conditions may again be right for evolution to take place. As to whether or not we need to evolve, this can be looked at in a number of ways: First, wouldn't it be nice if a lot of the genetic maladies that current affect so many people could be prevented by a more robust gene pool; secondly, wouldn't it be nice to have more intelligence and greater physical prowess? It would be nice if these last two things happened but, unfortunately, neither of them really have much to do with human kinds current ability to survive in our current environment; if this were not true, the human population would not be as great as it currently is--6 billion I think!
2006-10-19 15:22:04 · answer #2 · answered by bruinfan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There has been conflict for the whole of recorded history, and no identifiable evolution has been recorded. The barriers that you mention have been in place for our entire history as well. The question of whether or not we need to evolve is both unanswerable and moot.
2006-10-19 15:55:29 · answer #3 · answered by Helmut 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not a case of whether or not we "need" to evolve, it is something that cannot be fixed or stopped. We evolve as the universe evolves. If we did not evolve from walking on all fours, monkeys, we would not be able to live...
2006-10-19 15:16:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋