do you ever think that humans will evolve to where we never need sleep again. i know more and more people are getting less and less sleep now adays. also there are people now that can only sleep for a few hours with days on end (the coach for the tampa bay bucs is a great example). i know people need sleep to repair their bodies, but if we are getting less sleep now, is it possible for us to evolve to the point to where we wont need sleep at all?
2007-02-07 04:39:09 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
I suppose anything is possible, but I really don't think there is any solid evidence to show there is an increase in the number of individuals don't need the typical 8 hours of sleep. And how do you know that those who do sleep only a few hours a day AREN'T damaging their bodies?
Even if humans were becomming less dependent on sleep, I think the race would be dead and gone before we saw any kind of major evolutionary change. With all the medical and technological advances, nature can not "weed out" members of the species as it does with animals and plants. I'm pretty sure the human you see today will not see much if any evolution any time soon. So sorry, your great great great grandkids will probably still need their sleep.
2007-02-07 04:52:40 · answer #1 · answered by skyzmer86 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think non-sleeping humans would evolve unless there was some gene that could cause genetic insomnia (if it's not genetic, then there's no chance for evolution), and (more importantly) that there was some survival or reproduction advantage to being a non-sleeping human, thus propagating the gene. It may seem to you like people sleep less now a days, but that might be more due to culture (opportunities for night life, popularity of certain foods and eating habits, etc.)
2007-02-07 14:37:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rest is for the body, sleep is for the mind. It is believed that if one could totally shut down their mind, excluding involuntary actions, you would only need 15 minutes of sleep. Those folks getting a lot less than 7 hours or so are running their bodies into the ground. Let's see how long they live and their quality of life!
2007-02-07 12:48:13 · answer #3 · answered by MadMaxx 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is simply a question of whether or not it gives mankind (through individuals) an edge on creating more offspring who will inherit a propensity to sleep v. little. I guess it gives more time for sex and passing on genes but if the reason we evolved to sleep is because it is safer to hunker down all night it has not become significantly less dangerous (relatively speaking), so no, I think we'll stick w. it.
2007-02-07 12:48:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question... one thing to ponder, though...
About 30% of Americans are obese now and spend 50% of their food money on convenience foods according to this mornings newscast. Lack of sleep and stress related to chronic sleep deprivation (as well as every day stressors related to family, work , and money situations) can inhibit our ability to lose weight efficiently as we should be able to.
Although we may be able to train our bodies to function on less sleep, I believe we are digging a very deep hole of more frequent/chronic medical/health problems in our future. In addition, have you noticed that when you don't get enough sleep, you cannot think clearly, properly, and quickly enough? Think of the doctors that go on call for several days on end. Would you prefer to have one operate on you that has been up for two days, or one that has just come on shift?
2007-02-07 12:57:00 · answer #5 · answered by longleggedfirecracker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The question is do the children of people who sleep less have enough of a survival advantage? We might see a reduction in the men, but I doubt sleep will be eliminated.
2007-02-07 13:10:33 · answer #6 · answered by novangelis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only the best genes survive and go into the gene pool. Still, all animals need to sleep. I can't name one moving intellegent life form that doesn't sleep. I think their will be no room for this in the gene pool, I think we will always need sleep.
2007-02-07 12:43:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, when we can repair all the body stuff that wears out because we do not sleep.
2007-02-07 12:41:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The new theory is that the aliens are us evolved into them
They are coming back to save us from destroying ourselves so that we CAN evolve into THEM
personally I LOVE sleep
2007-02-07 12:47:08 · answer #9 · answered by sapphire_630 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No i do not believe in evolution.
2007-02-07 13:25:08 · answer #10 · answered by lemon drops 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋