Has man stopped evolving and maybe begun devolving if such a word exists?

Question

I'm thinking that life is too easy now and a lot of people are able to survive and reproduce who would not have in paleolithic times.

I hate to post this question.

I would like to think that the answer is no.

Answer 1

you are right in the sense that there are lots of people that live today, that shouldn't be if we weren't trying to save everyone. I don't think its possible to de-evolve, but evolution can be slowed down, which it has.

Evolution is constantly going on. Each one of us are technically "mutants". Random mutations occur to every individual that is born, though they are slight mutations on their genes. The larger mutations are the ones where there is a defect on the individuals.

The problem with us is, we have slowed down evolution for our species down to a crawl. We do not let nature takes it course because of "human compassion and empathy". Do you know what diseases are for? To limit the population and to allow the strongest specimen to survive and reproduce. The problem is, we are trying to save everyone.

AIDS, malaria, bubonic plague, all catastrophic diseases that kill many many people. Yet, we have/are trying to find cures for them. Why? There are people that have natural resistance for these diseases. Nature did not intend for us to be this many. We, in a sense, became too smart for our own good. There are tons of other animal diseases out there that limit the population of other animals. Its natural.

The human population did not explode until the late 18th century with the advent of the Industrial Revolution. Before that time, human population mirrored that of other animals. Periods of incline, then decline, up and down. The Industrial Revolution lead to creations of modern technology and led the way for modern medicine, cultivation of high-yielding crops, and other modern "wonders". We have since then, EXPLODED and have not been brought down since (minor temporary decline during wars)

This is the same principle as to why the other animals have not evolved as much, especially ones in which humans have cultivated. We have destroyed the gene pool. Chickens, cows, turkeys, etc, are bred to a specific standard. We all want our chickens to be the same, cows to taste the same - we dont like variation. Because of this, we have purposefully bred these animals to have certain characteristics. How can we expect them to evolve when we are not allowing natural selection to occur.

This goes with people as well. How can we expect evolution to continue if we keep saving those that nature deemed, weak? I'm not saying we shouldn't save or help others. I'm asking you how can you expect us to evolve on a normal course if we interfere with the process itself. We are still evolving, but on a much slower speed than if we have let natural selection to occur.

Answer 2

For the past 5000 years or so, society has become civilised enough so that most people survive into adulthood. Medicine has been able to help prevent disease for the past 300 years or so. We have been able to treat disease properly for about 100 years.
We have been evolving, as humans, for the past 4 million years or so. 5000 years is not much in evolutionary terms.

Also, most people in the world still die from preventable diseases, due to poor access to healthcare. So, selective pressures still come into play.

There is no such thing as devolving. Evolution does not have a direction. If being a lazy, computer addicted, moronic slob helps you to procreate better than someone else, then that is evolution.

Answer 3

The government does not want you to know the truth. Look up the 12th planet called neberu. It actually collided with mars or the moon to create earth. Look up annunaki genetics. We arent evovling because we have already evovled. Do you think we are really a mistake? Why are we so different from anything else on this planet. We are the aliens to this planet not everything else. Also there are 53 different races of humans on this earth how is that possible. If humans have been around for only 10,000 years, how could 53 different races of humans evolve in such little time?

Answer 4

Yes! The word devolve is a real word. Certainly a case can be made for some members of the species devolving. All one has to do is look at the simian in the White House, George "Dubya" Bush. He is a perfect example of devolution.

Answer 5

The word "devolving" displays a fundamental misconception about evolution. There is no direction in evolution. There is just change where there is advantage. If there is no particular advantage there is no great selective pressure. The vast majority of species, by number and biomass, are simple organisms that have happily chuntered along in their particular niche for millions of years. There is evidence that many organisms have reduced in complexity and become less advanced because there is no particular advantage to complexity in their particular environment. Think of blind cave fish, for example.

Answer 6

Survival of the fittest?

I think you are right in that people survive today that would never survive thousands of years ago. I look at myself, I am near-sighted (like 30% of Americans). Problem is, I can't see clearly but a foot in front of me without my contacts. I am sure a thousand years ago, I would be left to the streets, living the life of a blind begger.

But does that mean we are 'devolving'? -- We are still evolving.

Survival of the fittest. It is just our measure of 'fitness' has changed. Fitness is measures by the current population. In today's society, intelligence outweighs physical strength. A more 'fit' person may be a nerd vs. the brute.

check this out for the future of man:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7348103/

Answer 7

This is a good question. Hopefully, we can develop genetic means to correct problems in individuals that fall in the category that you have concern with. On the other hand, we don't encourage people with certain traits (Mongolism) to marry and have children.

Answer 8

Man will always continue to evolve even if resources are plentiful due to diseases in the environment. And several other unobtrusive factors.

Answer 9

yes we are "DE" evolving and yes there allot of people who would not be here were it not 4 technology, think of every one you know over 30 years old, i bet out of all the people you know over 30 maybe only one or 2 have never been in the hospital, no hospital and they would have died........... so yep

Answer 10

well as more jobs are created we as humans spectialize in a single job that they know well in yester years many people had multiple jobs and tryed to well round themselfs and yes even the stupid people have the right to exist just the same as you and I