I see so many cases where people have so many different new abilities, like wolf boy, pets are getting smarter, are we experiencing the next step in evolution that lies right before out eyes?
2006-12-12 14:15:44 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Actually, what you are observing is not evolution. Evolution means there is a change in the frequency of alleles in a population. This can happen randomly or it can happen by selection. The way humans live now, selection is nearly gone. Hereditary diseases that used to be eliminated from populations are being passed on because modern medicine can suppress them. So, even though we are seeing lots of new abilities (alleles), we do not know if they will be passed on or if thier frequency in the population will increase or decrease.
Maybe in a few hundred years, we'll see that it is microevolution, but right now, it's just mutations.
Also, with the pets, who knows if they are actually smarter, or just living up to thier potential? We may think we are smarter today than they were 2000 years ago, but physically we're probably just the same.
PS - I guess you were an X-men fan (as am I). What they call evolution is just mutation, since the abilities are not necessarily passed on. (And besides, the authors just said their powers came from evolution because there were already too many radioactive spiders and aliens around.) =D
2006-12-12 15:25:09 · answer #1 · answered by retzy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure. Look at dogs, for example. In just a few hundred years we have developed fantastic new breeds, from toy size to giant breeds, some very specialized. Compare humans in the West today to their ancestors 200 years ago, and you will see some significant differences--much larger, likely greater brain capacity. We are evolving, but evolution is a slow process, so marked changes that the skeptics want to see are rare and maybe not really so apparent.
2006-12-12 22:25:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You bet!
Evolution is happening right now but it's happenning in small steps called microevolution, when organisms mate with each other, their genes pass on to next generation (each generation is different from each other, changes little by little and over million of years we'd see big chances). For example, HIV has different genetic components now than those HIV 20-30 years ago. We can see the microevolution is happening. But Macroevolution may take million of years. We won't be around that long to witness it. However, looking at fossil evidences and compare with modern species, we can see Macroevolution.
2006-12-12 22:23:22 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. Zoo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It appears evolution has provided you with rudimentary sarcasm. If that gene is combined with a sense of humor gene, it might be a formidable combination.
2006-12-13 03:11:49 · answer #4 · answered by novangelis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no the wolf boy is not evolution but maybe ur right
2006-12-12 22:23:08 · answer #5 · answered by whatuknowaboutthatisback 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, as a matter of fact. Dog has always been man's best friend. Awesome observation.
2006-12-12 22:17:50 · answer #6 · answered by Cold Fart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, probably not. Your pets are not smarter.
2006-12-12 22:17:28 · answer #7 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋