Could modern day humans evolve into another species?

Question

Could modern day humans evolve into another species?
if possible given the time period generally given for a species to evolve, is there enough time on our planet for humans to evovle into another species. this is going by the scientific communities expiration date for earth not sure what the estimates are and im sure there are heaps. and if so how would this be determined, what classifications will define that the evolution of modern day man has taken place.

asking in rs cause no one answers anywhere else

Answer 1

Yes! they already are in their mind - Super-ego -superman greater than the True God they denied!

Answer 2

Given some impetus to do so such as a radical change in the climate or available food supply humans could well adapt and evolve. We've seen this happen many times before. Keep in mind that species don't spontaneously evolve into other species. There has to be a reason to do so. Put a bunch of elephants onto an island of maybe 100 sq miles. Come back in ten thousand years. You'll find that they're now much smaller than the original animal. This is an adaptation to compensate for a limited food supply and territory. The humans of 500 years ago tended to be shorter than we are now due to many factors but one reason is because a fireplace is a lousy way to heat a home and the more compact you are the better you can retain body heat. This is only one way that evolution is an ongoing process.

Answer 3

I don't think we can evolve into another species without some catestrophic, global events to aid in the process. I say this because the population density of humans is quite large, and for evolution to take place, the gene pool would have to be reduced or the more successful mutations would not have a significant impact on the population when they reproduced.

Another hindrance to evolving is that when a mutation occurs, it will likely be addresses by modern medicine, as opposed to survival of the fittest theories kicking in.

With those two points said, however, I do believe we can and are in fact evolving as human beings today already.

This evolution doesn't manifest itself in a genotype/phenotype, but rather, it is a higher state of consciousness.

All people are capable of this evolution, and we've seen some amazing examples of what people can achieve in the pioneers of this evolution when we look at examples like Jesus, Buddha, etc.

Answer 4

This question is based on the assumption that our present environment has been constant for several billion years. Has the Sun remained this exact size over billions of years?

As to your question, the rules of evolution point to a mutation, an advantage the mutation, then a reproduction of such a mutation. We have had mutations, but such--whether an advantage or not--is never reproduced. Somehow the perfection of two legs, a torso of incredible design, two arms, hands, eyes, and ears that also work as balancing gyros, has yet to be improved upon over thousands of years.

I say, no.

Answer 5

I love how people think we have stopped evolving simply because they want to believe that. Looking at most of the answers I'd say this is a bad section for your question as well.

The answer lies in our DNA, fossils, etc, which all clearly show life has and is still evolving.

In answer to your question, modern day humans can absolutely evolve into another species.

Answer 6

Yes.

Short of nuclear war, or an extinction sized asteroid hit I do not see any of the pending environmental catastrophes making Homo Sapiens extinct. Civilization, as we know it, could well end, but some humans would probably survive.

Civilization has reduced the ability of mankind to evolve, partially because we protect our weaker members and partially because we can now change our environment to suit us, rather than the other way around.

So a collapse of civilization and a change in the world environment would almost certainly lead to evolutionary changes in humanity. To the point of a different species? If civilization is not re-established quickly then possibly.

Answer 7

I doubt it.
While I am a staunch devotee of the theory of evolution, I don't see that there is enough time left for this species to evolve into an entirely-different form.
While we continue to evolve now and tomorrow, the time scale required is immense and the sun will expand and consume this planet (third in line!) before any such change can be seen.
Of course, life on this planet could be extinguished in a flash when that big asteroid hits us. We ARE due!

Answer 8

good question...evolution has not been debunked by "christian" scientists....they are not technically scientists anyway. A scientist isn't supposed to believe in fairy tales, he/she is supposed to not be bias.

second, for your question.... I think its possible only on one condition, if a small/medium sized group of humans was isolated from the rest of the world and only reproduced within their group...overtime, they would develop distinct characteristics, and over a even longer time, they could possibly become a new species...which could no longer reproduce with homo sapiens.... In fact, this is what happened to homo sapiens and Neanderthals. The Neanderthal and us(sapiens) were both a different human species that lived at the same time.

Answer 9

over the course of the next couple hundred thousand years, if we don't destroy the earth ourselves first.

the evolution would probably be, bigger brains, smaller bodies... probably something similar to want you see portrayed as an alien.

the problem is in the fact they humans as a species is fighting natural selection and is winning most of the battles, with medical and scientific discoveries. We have no natural predator and can fight most despise, so threes not much left too evolve.

we'll lose over time our muscles that we don't need to survive in the wild, and brains will grow due to the added use over time.

Answer 10

No. This would require environmental pressure, which no longer exists, since people can pretty much use technology to deal with environmental problems. This does not mean that evolution has stopped -- indeed, it is continuing. (You aren't likely to see a repeat of the 1918 flu epidemic.) But most of the surviving mutations are invisible.

Answer 11

Why one? Why not several? At some point, humans will hit a limit to population. At this point, survival factors may result in one or more changes in the population.

If you had asked in Biology, I would have answered there.