Do you think it is possible that we can evolve into a new variety of species, other than Homo Sapiens?

Question

Given nearly an infinite amount of time (the earth is 4.6 billion years old) in a universe which is 20 billion years old, we may not be the last in the chain, of ever-evolving homonids. Perhaps in a 100,000 years, something more intelligent than what we classify ourselves as today (wise or knowing man), we will replace Homo Sapiens, as the dominant mammal of the earth...

Simply put, evolution begins with errors during DNA replication. Most of these errors are unsuccessful, and disappear. However, a very small number of these "errors" survive, and lead to successful mutations.

An example of successful mutations, would be Blood Types "A" & "B", which successfully mutated from "O". As we have surpassed Homo Erectus and Neanderthals, do you think it is possible that Homo Sapiens can be surpassed?

As an additional note, I read that science predicts that within one million years (a geologically short period of time), the average temperature on earth will climb to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which will include the poles, which will have melted, and raised the water levels nearly 250' worldwide...Temperatures around the equator will reach close to 200 degrees (nearly boiling)...So, even if Homo Sapiens survive, we will need to find another planet to escape to...

...and colonize, in order to continue our survival!

Answer 1

we are already evolving into what we will become. my worry is that we are presently not improving but degrading. as medicine gets better and better at keeping alive people with genetic defects that would just a few generations ago not have survived long enough to pass on their genes to the next generation our gene pool is becoming weaker not stronger. natural selection for humans no longer applies. by bypassing natural selection each generation will continue to degrade. because we can no longer evolve naturally our only hope is genetic research. if we can learn to erase genetic defects not only can we begin to evolve again but we can decide what it is we will evolve into.

Answer 2

I really doubt it... sadly...

NOT because it is not possible, but because we as humans are doing everything in our power to STOP any kind of further evolution by interfering with medical science etc... Especially in relationship to things we can see.

For instance, whenever a child is born with 6 fingers they cut the 6th finger off. Now, WHAT IF that was to be the next great evolution of humans, imagine the manual dexterity that could be achieved once it became the norm and we learned to really control them. Now some would argue that cutting the finger off doesn't affect genetics, and this is true. HOWEVER the number of people with 6 fingers has dropped DRAMATICALLY since the witch hunts of the 15th, 16th, 17th and even 18th centuries in which 6 fingered people were specifically targeted and murdered because it was supposed to be a sign of a witch. This WOULD change the genetic frequency of the condition and thus change the outcome of any possible evolution that may or may not have been happening.

Of course, this is a silly example and probably not realistic, but it DOES illustrate how we are changing things and that there is NO such thing as NATURAL selection any longer in relation to human beings. Therefore evolution will probably not happen much further.

In fact, we may actually devolve in some ways. As far as our resistance to certain pathogens etc. Not only this, but the gene pool is shrinking dramatically and since natural selection no longer acts on humans (for the most part) we run the risk of weakening our gene pool to a point that we may end up screwing ourselves in the long run.

Answer 3

Good question, like some have suggested ie our genetic interference may interefere before the aeons and mutations evolve us further. That said under these Earthly conditions I think Homo Sap has reached optimum physically but has only recently in relative terms began to evolve mentally.
I think we will evolve further physically to meet off world conditions and maybe if pollution goes on to meet earth changes but maybe not so 'naturally' anymore sadly.
And yes if given time I think man could seriously change the genetic markers that constitute Homo Sap and turn us into all sorts. Human dolphins on water worlds why not?

Answer 4

The most likely cause of events will be that Man will eventually become extinct, just like 99.9% of the rest of the species that have ever existed. The species that are left, whether they are mammals, insects, reptiles or bacteria, will continue to adapt and change, until they too, become extinct.

The dinosaurs lasted a lot longer than we ever will, with a lot less intelligence.

Intelligence has little to do with survival, just look at how well rats have adapted to society. Species survival is about individual survival and the passing on of genetic material. Rats have done this highly successfully in many inhospitable environments. And they will eat dead humans. In case of sudden extinction, say from a war, guess who won't starve?

Answer 5

i'm sure it's possible. i think it's far more likely for human beings to evolve slowly and by degrees than for there to be any great leap forward, but i have no problem with the idea that we are indeed slowly evolving. it's hard to tell how though. it would be nice to think that the people most likely to produce viable offspring are the strong ones, the intelligent ones, the gentle ones, but i often feel that our many 'miracles of modern science,' wonderful as they are, are not exactly contributing to the survival of the fittest. i mean, look at me. i'm shortsighted. and for the moment i'm above average in terms of physical strength, but thanks to an inherited neuropathy, that may well not last. nevertheless, thanks to glasses and therapy and so on, i'll probably have children when i'm older. children who have more likelihood than their peers of being shortsighted, and who just might inherit a neuropathy from their mother.

Answer 6

It seems you have a progressive view of evolution. Evolution has no plan, it has no direction and it is not teological. Natural selection uses those errors you speak of in a cumulative manner, but in response to the IMMEDIATE environment ; there is no planning ahead. A " successful " mutation could regress us as well as what you would call advancement. It depends on how the genotype is expressed into the phenotype. A selection pressure could carry us in any direction. It is wrong to say we have surpassed anything. Our evolutionary history is yet to be fully written. What will be, will be, we can not predict it with any certainty.

Answer 7

Of course we will evolve in to something different. Evolution is inevitable; the only species that are not evolving are ones that extinct. As for whether we will evolve into something better... hard to say, for two reasons. Firstly, "better" in evolution means suited to the environment. Secondly... culture is exerting greater pressures on selection than natural selection is, and will most likely continue to do so in the future.

Answer 8

It's taken us millions of years to get here, now ,I believe, evolution is in our hands. We are on the brink of being able to take over from nature. In the next 20 - 50 years computing, bio-tech and nano-machines will advance to a state allowing us direct augmentation of our brain, organs and other body parts, we will also be able manipulate our own genetic code. Not only is our knowledge and technology increasing exponentially but the exponent is itself is increasing.

Answer 9

IF you believe in evolution, then you must believe that humans will continue to evolve. However, maybe it is good argument against evolution that it appears mankind is devolving into a lower life form. Western technology has reached a point where only the imagination is the limiting factor, but great portions of the population eschew education, deal drugs, use drugs, and prey on other members of society. In the US, one of the most advanced nations, there are record numbers of people incarcerated for crimes against the rest of the society. Political parties seek to enslave the population, is this the result of survival of the fittest? I hope not.

Answer 10

If shows like Heroes (Which I highly recommend), books like Darwin's Radio/Darwin's Children (Which I also highly recommend), and comic books like X-Men are any indication - absolutely! And I look forward to it!