Can we evolve at the rate the planet is changing now?

Question

Is it possible for us to evolve at the same rate as the planet is changing because of Climate Change or is the change happening too fast for us to catch up?

I'm talking about evolution, not changing technology or cultural adaptation, I'm talking about genetics only, if we stay where we are and it keeps changing.

Answer 1

In al actuality, our evolution is at a stand still. By fixing most illnesses with medicin, we have eliminated the evolution process in humans.

no, the rate at witch the climate is changing, we probubly will not evolve our way around it. It is much more likely we will envent something to fix the problum.

Answer 2

Every species, plant and animal, always evolves. I think the word you're looking for is 'adapt.' Yes, we can normally adapt to climate changes, but the climate we are currently in is changing much too fast. Some people do not believe that global warming is occurring, but really, there are so many facts that it IS occurring. With global warming occurring, temperatures are increasing much faster than ever before in Earth's history because of the increase in carbon dioxide in the air, but also the increase of deforestation. Trees help us get rid of the excess carbon dioxide in the air, but with people cutting down many trees and not replacing them, that's really harming the environment.

No, I'm not a tree-hugger. I'm just trying to point out that yes, the earth does have ice ages and heat waves every once in a while, but it has never had temperature increases this quickly. To answer your question, at this rate, no, we will NOT be able to adapt to the changes fast enough.

I have been told before "why should we worry about global warming? The temperatures always increase throughout history, so nothing we do can stop it anyway. So why should we care?" That is one of the dumbest excuses I've ever heard. Yes, the temperatures will change, but we can help slow down the temperature increase by just changing some things we do. Plant more trees. Conserve a little bit of energy or gas. Just little changes can help a lot. That excuse above makes no sense to me, because I can turn around and argue that okay, we will all just get dirty again, so why should we shower? Or even we will all just be hungry again, so why should we bother eating. Anyway, I'm done with my ranting. Heh, got a little carried away. Sorry! But yes, to answer your question, in normal circumstances, yes, we could adapt to the changes, but right now we're not experiencing normal circumstances, so unless we change our ways and slow down the global warming, then no, we will not be able to adapt fast enough to the climate changes.

Answer 3

Interesting question, i'll just add a couple of other points to the debate:

- Apparently human specie has a low genetic diversity (origin from a relatively small population?) => problems of "inbreeding", including genetic diseases that were silented by being recessive. On the other hand we are exposed to a increasing number of mutagenic elements - maybe it increases the mutation rate and thus new variations?...

- We're manipulating the mechanisms of natural selection, by fighting the diseases artifitially and by allowing the survival and perduration of traits (or individulas) that otherwise would be eliminated. For example, i wonder if myopia eye disease would still be around if glasses haven't been devoloped (i would hardly survive without them...).

**** sapiens already survived an ice age once, but the scenario is pretty different now: with the modern power of destruction as well with the massive extinction of important elements of the biosphere and degradation of habitats... ai ai

Answer 4

Interesting question.

Can we evolve quickly enough for everyone to survive and keep on our present course? No. Climate change is too fast.

Can we start the process of evolution? Yes. Climate change has the potential to kill off a lot of us. The survivors would need to have some advantage that helped them survive. Their offspring are most likely to have the same advantage. Could be quite a bottleneck, though.

I think it's time to put you on my contacts list so I can watch what you're up to. You have some provocative questions and an interesting way of asking them.

Answer 5

Somewhat is is likely and somewhat is isn't. With the Earth changing the way it is the arctic animals can't evolve the way we can. Humans can change along with the Earth but it will take time. If someone lives in the South or the West where it is warm and then all of the sudden move to the North where is is very cold we would have to take time to get used to that coldness of the north.

Answer 6

We don't live naked in the woods so I don't think it is fair to eliminate technology from the equation since it is part of what we are. There is no reason to believe the hysterical predictions of politicians and people who need to scare you to get money. The world is not going to end tomorrow or in a thousand years. At worst, there may be some cataclysm in the future that severely reduces the Earths ability to sustain as many people. That is likely and will not be permanent. It will not be because the growing seasons are longer and there is less ice on the planet. (JMO)

Answer 7

No, we can't evolve at the rate the planet is changing now. We will be able to technically cope with some changes, but, if, for instance, all of the methane currently trapped in the cold oceans is released into our atmosphere, we aren't going to be able to evolve fast enough to be able to breathe that atmosphere. Warmer air is not the only thing that is going to change.

Answer 8

As for human evolution, we have the ability to shield ourselves from the effects of the environment, so we can take our sweet time evolving.

It's other species that may be in trouble.

Mass extinctions have occurred several times in the geological past when the planet undergoes some rapid change (as in a few thousand years) that occurs faster than things can evolve (tens of thousands to millions of years). In the past these types of rapid change have been the result of natural catastrophes like a large meteor strike. It is possible that the next mass extinction disaster may be caused by humans ... the effects of human-generated global warming over the next few hundred years may be that very event.

Answer 9

On the norm it takes thousands if not millions of years to evolve in the genetic range. I guess my short answer is I hope we can adapt quickly but history has said no already.
Let us hope we can find another way.

Answer 10

Instead of us evolving to be suited to the environment, we're changing the environment to suit us.