An evolutionary theorist at the London School of Economics is predicting that as people become more picky about who they have children with a genetic upper class and a dim-witted underclass will begin to emerge around the year 3000. He says the outcome would be two sub-species, "gracile" and "robust" humans similar to the Eloi and Morlocks foretold by HG Wells in his 1895 novel The Time Machine.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6057734.stm
Which class will your descendants be in...
2007-10-24 23:56:15 · 10 answers · asked by Skidoo 7 in News & Events ➔ Other - News & Events
I say the author is full of crap. Sexual selection and status has always existed with mankind, it hasn't lead to speciation yet and it certainly won't happen in the next thousand years. Woman can easily overcome class handicaps by physical beauty and thus keep the genetic pool cycling. Also, specialization just doesn't pay off in an enviroment where change is rapid and specialized traits don't give benefits for long enough periods to be permanently selected for.
I just don't see the class barrier as ever being big enough to cause sub-species to form. Even the different races on earth have very small genetic differences and they much larger barriers to interbreeding and more then a thousand years to differentiate.
2007-10-25 00:12:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Mmm! Interesting reading. I very much doubt it would come about. The theorist who is making the predictions is also using the very technology that he scoffs at, so where is the sense in that. Either way I don't think we will be around to notice.
LOL! However! Since you have brought it to our attention. I am sure that all on here (Y/A)and our decendants, will take heed and be the bright sparks that we already know we are, since we have been forewarned
2007-10-25 08:31:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suppose what he describes is possible if future humans don't take any steps to enhance themselves genetically or counter any degeneration, but it's just speculation. We may instead genetically engineer new subspecies of humanity to survive in various habitats, or enhance everybody's physique by various alterations. See this link for the kind of changes which might be possible.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumanism
2007-10-25 05:17:09 · answer #3 · answered by Huh? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dr. James Watson, the nobel prize winner for discovering DNA, has recently been chastised for indicating that a similar difference already exists. He found the deiiference was prevelant in white vs black DNA.
Was Dr. Watson a racist and is this guy at the LSE a racist?
Or is science the truth?
2007-10-25 01:10:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sexual selection doesn't always mean that intelligent people will procreate with other intelligent people only and vice versa. A lot of the so-called 'upper class' seem to be where they are because of who they know and not always because of what they know anyway.
2007-10-25 09:52:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi skidoo, no one can realy know what will happen, if now they can grow human ears on mice, and clone lambs, i think in the year 3000, people will be far more advanced, what ever class they are
2007-10-25 05:51:48 · answer #6 · answered by bluebrancall 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The year 3000? There is some misunderstanding here - you're getting confused between me and somebody who gives a toss.
2007-10-25 00:47:38 · answer #7 · answered by Riff Raff 1 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Arn't we the intellectual? If only I could provide links that were of this calibre...
Oh well, sigh, I will just have to stick to my Kate Moss style questions.
Thanks.
2007-10-25 00:27:21 · answer #8 · answered by !Lady Stormy! 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
There will be the pro and the anti McCann's?
2007-10-25 00:00:35 · answer #9 · answered by Two Pints Lager 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
dont care i`l be long gone........
2007-10-25 00:04:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋