Humans are always making their lives easier and more suited to their needs. We have become completely isolated from nature, we create our own ideal surroundings which suit our present form almost perfectly. I don't see any reason for us to continue evolving, since we are no longer trying to adapt to our changing environment, but we artificially adapt our environments to suit our needs. I think if any evolution is taking place it would probably be that we are becoming more physically appealing, since that's the only thing we change through natural selection. what do you think?
2007-02-12 05:53:27 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Humans still have a lot of evolving to do. You are right that our physical appeal should start to look better. But we still have yet to control the power within ourselves. One day we will be as powerful as Saiyan-jin's. Our inner energy has been needing to get out and has had to take a back seat to the basic needs of now. But not anymore.
2007-02-12 06:03:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A few people are mixing up evolution and adaptation.
Evolution requires a fairly constant selective pressure, and this pressure can be natural or not. However, the selective pressure MUST be severe enough that those who don't "make the cut" are unable to pass along genes. That's the key.
Many of the selective pressures on humans are now gone, but some remain. It may not be the case that we are becoming more physically appealing, because although everyone desires someone who's beautiful, the ugly people may have more children (and thus be more reproductively "successful" in evolutionary terms).
Unless beautiful people, on the whole, have more children (or children better equipped to pass along their genes) than ugly people, as a whole we won't evolve towards that end of the gene pool.
2007-02-12 06:35:14 · answer #2 · answered by Michael 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question, but no, we will never stop evolving. Reason being is that evolution is a product of change. If nothing stays the same, then we can never stop evolving. Evolution is bigger than our comprehension. You would have to know what's going to happen in the next million years, to predict whether we, as a species, will have to change our genetic make-up to suit for it.
Yes, we have isolated ourselves from certain elements, but that BECOMES part of our evolution. As humans adapt to not needing to walk(cars), our bodies will no longer evolve to walk more efficiently. Walking upright is one of the biggest turning-points in human evolution, and we no longer need it! Think about it.
2007-02-12 06:08:06 · answer #3 · answered by joshnya68 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a brilliant question in my opinion.
You make astute observations, as well.
I feel inadequate to properly respond to your question. I am not an expert in this arena. But I would say (and this is the opinion of a layman) that we are continuing to evolve. Maybe it is merely an example of an ever improving education system, but it seems that kids are smarter at a younger age today than what once was the case. Have you witnessed this as well?
I don't know if it is tied to evolution, or to aspect changes within the education system. Maybe it's an amalgamation of these elements.
2007-02-12 06:04:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Really it is hard to tell. Certainly we have removed the classical reason for a species evolving. Survival of the fittest.
This means we will evolve in a way that has not been seen before but I think we will still develop. How, and what the stimulus for that development is remains to be seen.
2007-02-12 06:02:50 · answer #5 · answered by Elizabeth Howard 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
> Do you think we humans have reached a level where we stopped evolving?
No. Future generations will be descended from those individuals today who have children.
So: who is having children?
Women with educations and careers tend to have fewer children than those who don't.
If the trend continues, the next step of evolution will be that women will be less interested in education and careers than they are now.
2007-02-12 06:28:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Despite changing our environment, I don't think the process should stop. At many levels (microorganisms, natural radiation, UV light, asteroids from space, etc.), we have minimal control over our environment. At some level, therefore, I think there will always be adaptation occurring.
2007-02-12 06:04:29 · answer #7 · answered by Ken C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
is that your excuse for the current state of the republican party?
2007-02-12 06:03:34 · answer #8 · answered by Spicoli 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋