Looking back on the stupendous accomplishments of evoloutions, could accurate testable scientific projections be made as to future creations?
2007-06-05 22:29:16 · 6 answers · asked by james h 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
No, I don't think it will.
Firstly, as Epidavros says, evolution is concerned with reproduction and passing on of genes. Assuming that there isn't a corresponding increse in the age at which humans can reproduce, then longer lived humans will have no more chance of reproducing than shorter lived ones.
I would actually take it slightly further, and speculate that there is pressure _not_ to live longer. Image two human populations, one where people live to 70, and one where they live to 500. In the one where they live to 500, the "oldies" will be consuming food and resources, but not reproducing - this could actually have the effect of meaning there is less food and resources for those of reproductive age, making them less able to pass on their genes.
This doesn't mean there is anything wrong with improving healthcare to ensure that people live to a healthy, ripe old age, by the way, just that it is medical advances which will achieve this, not the effects of evolution.
2007-06-06 03:33:13 · answer #1 · answered by Lou B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, not at all. Evolution favors organisms that leave many successful offspring behind. This creates diversity and, therefore, an ability for genetic adaptation to changing environments. Having a bunch of elders around is useful for preserving knowledge and imparting wisdom to a point, but eternal life eventually implies no reproduction at all and, therefore, no genetic change after the world fills up with so many old folks there's no room for more. Because of these two competing pressures, natural selection implies an optimum *finite* lifespan for humans significantly longer than their reproductive years.
2007-06-09 06:38:49 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it won't.
Evolution is only concerned with the survival of individuals in as far as they are vehicles for the propgation of genes. Gene propogation is achieved once an individual has reproduced. The incremental evolutionary advantage of longer life than this is diminishingly small - there is no possible evolutionary advantage to immortality, and many evolutionary downsides.
2007-06-06 00:10:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some scientists say that our youngest generation (under 18's?) will live forever... They are already growing extra limbs on pigs etc. No reason we can keep replacing our bits... Also time travel could aid the process in my opinion.
2007-06-05 22:45:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
evolution would have created eternal life, billions of years from now, but since us humans screwed it up, no. No there will not be eternal life.
2007-06-05 22:31:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
2007-06-06 00:35:22 · answer #6 · answered by cja752003 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋