Does monogomous marriage prevent human evolution from occurring as quickly?

Question

It's been researched that genetically, humans have ties to fewer men than women. Meaning, that alpha males once produced the most children. Because those who could provide safety and comfort were fewer then today, do you think that human evolution is slowing down- that there is very little natural selection taking place in our sepcies?

Answer 1

It's my humble, half-educated guess that evolution is *going* to happen, regardless. Natural selection is just a by-product of the reproductive success of a species after all. As long as we *breed* evolution can still happen.

And last time we checked, we had some 300 million people in the United States alone, and some Six Billion people and *counting* world wide. So I don't think our own reproductive success is a major problem.

The problem, as your Question suggests, is: What is all this reproduction *selecting for*?

With an Alpha-Male driven, polygamous system, what you end up getting is a system that selects for strength, and other factors favored in the obtaining of food, and secondarily, of mates. Essentially, you get something like what *gorillas* had, and if the archaeology & fossil evidence is right these days, you get what *Homo erectus* had. You get selection for strength and short-term prowess, and for a Big Man/Little Woman culture.

It's clear that for the most part, we aren't going that way, that we haven't been at least since the dawn of *literate* civilization in Ancient Egypt, and *especially* with the creation of the Gutenberg Printing Press. When *writing* became common enough to use as a tool, *literacy* and having good enough eyesight to *be able to read and write* became pro-survival.

And well....there's evidence to suggest that we've been evolving since we split off from Homo Erectus. Search the site below for the whole phrases, "recent genetic mutations" and "human brain size" along with "human dietary changes".

http://www.sciencenews.org/

Point is....we've been tweaked here and there, in some cases even in *spite of* civilization. Yes, if you can *drink milk* past infancy it's a mutant power (lactose tolerance). And, our brains keep getting bigger....though the surgical delivery of babies (via Caesarian Section) has rather slowed the evolution of women to keep up with this.

So....yeah, evolution is happening. We still keep on breeding, how can it *not*? That's not the issue.

The issue is....Where are we going from here?

^_^ Hope this helps....thanks for your time.

Answer 2

the This is just a small every day example of natural selection no longer taking place in modern world:
Do you wear glasses or contacts? Think of how many people you know that do wear glasses/contacts. A huge percentile need vision correction. FAR more than, say three thousand years ago. Why? Because back in the day, if you couldn't see, you were SOL. You weren't a valuable member of society (especially during hunting/gathering times) and had little to add the the over all community. So chances were, if your eye sight was that poor, you could not provide for yourself never mind a family. You often wouldn't marry or reproduce. There as the hereditary effects of poor eye sight could not be passed down.
Yet, with the creation of vision corrections, people with severely poor eyesight could now participate in everyday life. Now a days it almost expected that a person is wearing contacts. There are FAR more people that need correction than don't. The main reason may be because once those with poor vision were able to take part in society, they could marry and pass on the poor genes.
Just my own observation, though. I haven't done any formal research on the matter.

Answer 3

I would think that the process has been slowed down because of monogamous relationships but at the same time it is increasing the gene pool and other evolutionary traits.
With the gene pool increasing the number of different dominate traits can be spread through out society we can get many different evolutionary branches.

Natural Selection is very limited in the human species in the present time. We find cures for diseases which eliminates the natural selection process. We nurse and prevent death for the young, mentally ill, physically handicapped ect.

I was just thinking just last week about natural selection and how it relates to me. I am near sighted. EXTREMELY near sighted. I can not survive with out my glasses or contacts. If I was born not too long ago in human history I would have been useless. I wouldn't have been able to hunt, gather food or protect myself or others. I would have died and my traits would not be passed on to future generations.

So yes, I would agree that natural selection has come to a near halt for man because of how society is now. While Monogamy has increased the different traits of humans to be passed on but never to be eliminated or passed on in a large scale.

Answer 4

The alpha male idea is a good one when we are needing physical protection from outside elements. When those things such as predators are not as much of a threat then the muscle bound alpha male is not needed to procreate as much. The strength that he would pass on is not as necessary. In this world the alpha male may be "brains" that are needed or someone who is not necessarily strong but quick or with good eyes to operate technology. It is more about what the society needs rather than the "alpha concept" as our species no longer needs that aspect to survive, not her ein America or Europe any how.

Answer 5

There were several factors in the past that could have contributed to fewer men contributing their DNA than women. 1. In the past, more women died during childbirth and their husbands remarried. 2. Polygamy practices in certain cultures. 3. The practices of feudal lords of taking the virginity of their vassal's wives on their wedding night. 4. Conquering leaders having their choice of women to rape. 5. Wealthy/powerful men having illegitimate children with many mistresses.

As for natural selection, that takes place when the animals that don't adapt die out and those who do live to reproduce. With our ability to keep people alive who would otherwise die and not reproduce, we are keeping humans from weeding out those who cannot adapt. However, many people who cannot adapt due to illness have other valuable contributions to make to society like Stephen Hawking so I think it evens out in the end.

Answer 6

I would say that yes it does. Obviously in order to be considered as an "alpha male" or fitting mate a man had to be more than just muscular. He also had to provide something to the tribe or clan that contributed to their survival or was a unique skill no one had. That is why girls were often married to older men as they had already established themselves within the tribe. It was only as Monotheistic religions came about that men were limited to one wife.

Answer 7

It is still happening. The bad boys are creating plenty of kids. The cook at my local restaurant has ten kids by four different woman. I disagreement with the one that says that the poor have dumb kids, lots of smart people are born into poverty. I agree with the one that says that technology will be the cause of future changes to mankind.

Answer 8

Women would rather have kids with Mr.Alpha and be taken care of by Mr. Beta (since he will always be around).
But Mr.Beta has wised up and now insist on fidelity.

Answer 9

Ideally to further the population and for a man to spread his genes, he should father children with multiple women. That would mean impregnating multiple women at a time. As far as women go, marriage helps them because both them and their offspring are more likely to be fed, protected, and cared for.

Answer 10

No. Genetic diversity drives natural selection. Monogamy provides more diversity than polygamy.