Directional selection is the basis of evolution. Would you believe that mankind is still evolving?

Question

Directional selection is basically a part of natural selection. It only occurs when the environment changes and nature itself would select those who are well adapted to the changed environment. However, we are now able to change the enviroment or counteract any selection pressure that has been exerted on us. So will this prevent us from evolving or just stabilising the way we are now?

Answer 1

mankind will never stop evolving. small examble would be that the little toe is gradually getting smaller because we no longer need it. in the distant future the little toe will no longer exist

Answer 2

There are different selective pressures now. Pollution, background radiation (both solar and technological) etc, are all detrimental environments which must be addressed by adaptation if we are to survive as a species. Those individuals who have a genetic resistance to the deleterious effects of these factors will have an increased chance of survivival to adulthood and for more offspring.
Also, consider that most of the world's population does not have the ability to change its environment, and does not have access to medicine which might inprove chances of survival, so selective pressures are certainly still relevant them.

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Answer 3

Of course we are.
Evolution does not stop, and mankind it still under selective pressure.
For example, if we never come up with a cure for AIDS, then people who evolve a resistance to it will have a selective advantage for passing on their genes: they will be able to have sex with as many people as they want (passing on their genes), while others will have to practice abstainance or die.
I'm not advocating promiscuity from a social point of view - but evolutionarily (in terms of passing on genes) it is very desireable.

And - unlike Goyza 1216's suggestion, there is no such thing as "devolution", in scientific terms. Evolution is not directed towards anything except passing on your genes. So, if being less intelligent, or shorter, or whatever turns out (somehow) to be advantageous for breeding - then it will be selected against.
There is a worrying theory that educated people in the western world are being evolved out. They are less likely to have lots of children than those from less-eductated environments (waiting until they "have a career" or "are in a stable situation", instead of just getting pregnant in their teens).

Answer 4

We are always evolving although now it's slowed down. We don't need to change skin color to adapt to sun or develop super strength like apes. We might actually be devolving. If you choose a mate because you like their body then those traits are desireable. But what if they look good because of plastic surgery? You children won't look as "gorgeous" because they don't have the chin implant or the liposuction. We just use surgery to get rid of undesirable traits and then our offspring end up with genes for obesity and baldness and bad skin. Birthmarks, moles, crooked teeth, near sightedness. You name it. We no longer choose mates due to what we have to choose from naturally. Think about it.

Answer 5

On a longer time frame, mankind is moving away from red/green color vision. The ability to detect those two colors arose in our ancestors when it helped find red things to eat in the green jungle. This is no longer a necessary trait and currently about 8% of the male population is red/green color blind. But, that 8% goes on reproducing since it is no longer important for survival.

Answer 6

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