If you could bend evolution to your will....?

Question

... what would you change with humans? this is for a study about creative thinking in humans, so please make it a good change, (mental or physical).

Just post it at http://igul222.com/human-20-wishlist/

Answer 1

Excellant question! If there was a way to make it impossible to lie...that's what I would choose!

Answer 2

Interesting question. I might be tempted to put selection pressure against deleterious genes, but who knows if those genes might be beneficial at some future point? Improving our body flaws might be another thing to consider - e.g. bulging discs, fragile bones, torn ligaments, visual problems, etc. It would be great if our bodies were designed for extended operation. However in evolutionary terms, natural selection doesn't aim for perfection or endless good health. The bottom line is, there will always be trade-offs in an ever-changing environment. So, even if I were able to bend evolution in a certain direction to improve problems today, there might be a completely different set of problems in the future that my "improved design" would be poorly adapted for. So, I think I'd pass on bending evolution to my will - it is clearly beyond me to attempt to control.

Answer 3

Sociologically we are territorial with a strong propensity for tribalism and xenophobia. These traits served our ancestors well but are now more dangerous the helpful.

Consider our propensity for belief in a supernature. Faith is the single most violent, destructive and counter-scientific force in the modern world. This I would change.

Secondly, I'd like to see a shift to a view where all humanity thinks of itself as a single tribe. No more racism, no more nationalistic chest beating, no more discrimination against immigrants.

I'd also want us to be able to eat snickers constantly and not gain weight.

Answer 4

Knees. The human knee is incredibly poorly designed, subject to catastrophic collapse in even the most athletic of our kind, notably through rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). I blame this on our recent switch to bipedalism, which has not allowed evolution to catch up by giving us better-designed knees. Presumably better knees would still engender a selective advantage, though, so hopefully in a few hundred thousand years this wouldn't be an issue anyway.

Answer 5

Pump the IQ well past 200 by gene-gineering Homo fulgans or Homo nitor and let it thereafter decide for itself.

"Outer Limits" "The Sixth Finger" 14 October 1963
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/uncleal.jpg

Mankind is remarkably unable to imagine its own future. It is the only thing that saves us. Science fiction exists to disclose defective futures and thereby prevent their happening. One notable failure is Geroge Orwell's "1984" versus Homeland Severity,

http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/homesec.jpg

Answer 6

I'd eliminate the fanaticism gene, followed by the gullibility gene, and then I'd find the scepticism gene, and introduce multiple copies of it. This would result in people questioning everything, not take anything at face value and reduce religious extremism. And may just bring about world peace.

Answer 7

I would shorten lifespans. No need for elderely care, or most of what medicine is trying to help. Also, it would be reason for people to get up and do something significant with their lives while they had time. No need for petty wars or fights, life's too short. For example, everyone dies at age 40 exactly. you would know it was coming, so you would grow up, learn, enjoy life, and prepare to leave something for the next generation.

Answer 8

My personal opinion is genetic is a good science but dangerous. you engineer a human to be almost anything. You could make them smarter, stronger, you engineer them for specific tasks, I know this sounds crazy But If i had my way I would engineer a race of super humans yes i know it sounds crazy not improbable.

Answer 9

Id love to have wings! But it would probably call for having a lighter frame/skeleton.

Not getting cancer I would say is a great evolutionary trend ;)

Answer 10

I like your question!
I would say that I would make it so our bodies don't break down so much when we age. I'm not saying to extend our life span or anything like that- just don't make it so people get "bad backs" or "weak knees" just because they used them.
So, no people needing reading glasses as they get older. No runners needing new cartilage in their knees because the running caused it to disintegrate. No men going bald because their hair follicles shrink. Stuff along that line.

Answer 11

We have been doing that for a long time; it is called artificial selection. Check the dogs in your neighborhood.