SF Writers, bunny

[JackLuis]

What humans will look like 1,000 years from now — thanks to climate change, artificial selection and mutations

Humans are in the midst of an evolutionary transition that can completely alter the way we look in 1000 years. Within the next few decades, scientific breakthroughs will propel our species forward with changes in physical traits and capabilities, but what causes this transformation to occur? In the latest video from AsapSCIENCE, Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown explain that climate change, artificial selection, and genetic mutations will all change our bodies in drastic ways, from red eyes to darker skin.

In the far future what will our characters be like?

"She was tall, at least as tall as the doorway, and her red eyes attracted him to her face. She was dark and her cleavage was deeper than average, like a canyon of dark chocolate, his tongue got hard making conversation difficult. Fortunately, for him, she wasn't interested in conversing."

 

[Hypoxia]

In the far future what will our characters be like?

"She was tall, at least as tall as the doorway, and her red eyes attracted him to her face. She was dark and her cleavage was deeper than average, like a canyon of dark chocolate, his tongue got hard making conversation difficult. Fortunately, for him, she wasn't interested in conversing."

The article bungled slightly -- most of our increasing lifespans (and birthrates) of the last ~1.5 centuries can be attributed to sanitation, not science. More mothers and babies survive, and we all live longer, when we wash our fucking hands and dishes. But that's a quibble.

I predict our un-natural selection in upcoming generations will favor blondes and redheads -- those are popular colors -- whatever the skin shades we adopt or evolve. I predict LCD-like skin implants that let us display any colors and textures we want at any moment. I predict custom-built eyeballs, from wide-aperture pools to cats-eye slits. I predict muscle-sculpting probiotics that eliminate obesity and give everyone six-pack abs. And I predict that many of these features will be mandated by insurers -- get the treatment or die, buddy. I predict that, whatever our genetic trends, we will all start to look more and moe alike -- visible diversity will diminish. Get with the plan.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

The article bungled slightly -- most of our increasing lifespans (and birthrates) of the last ~1.5 centuries can be attributed to sanitation, not science. More mothers and babies survive, and we all live longer, when we wash our fucking hands and dishes. But that's a quibble.

I predict our un-natural selection in upcoming generations will favor blondes and redheads -- those are popular colors -- whatever the skin shades we adopt or evolve. I predict LCD-like skin implants that let us display any colors and textures we want at any moment. I predict custom-built eyeballs, from wide-aperture pools to cats-eye slits. I predict muscle-sculpting probiotics that eliminate obesity and give everyone six-pack abs. And I predict that many of these features will be mandated by insurers -- get the treatment or die, buddy. I predict that, whatever our genetic trends, we will all start to look more and moe alike -- visible diversity will diminish. Get with the plan.

Actually...(there's that word)...in the near future, >2 centuries, our skin color will be a light caramel. Our facial features will be so alike to one another that only a computer scan will be able to tell the difference. (not really, just threw that one in there)

Other than the skin color everyone will look much the same as they do today. Over the centuries, since modern man appeared, our bodies haven't changed all that much. They have gotten softer, from lack of hard work. So if anything that trend will continue until we are fat, slug-like, beings oozing our way across the stars.

My great grandmother lived for 99 years on a farm in South Carolina. We never discussed sanitation, but we did discuss hard work. Right up until her death she worked in her garden everyday for four to six hours. Pulling weeds, watering with a sprinkling can, not the hose. Harvesting the vegetables and fruits.

Her mind was sharp, her eyes saw everything. And she never forgot a face. Names were her problem. She recognized me, but called me by my fathers name, unless he was standing beside me, then she got my name correct.

I used to sit with her and talk about the old days. It was fascinating. She remembered walking to school in the winter, the other three seasons she worked the fields. She told me many a tale of her life. She died in 1989 six months after her 99th birthday.

I have no idea why I have told you all this???!!!!???

 

[PervOtaku]

Evolution/natural selection relies on changing environmental conditions. Technology has essentially ended human evolution because we now change the environment to suit ourselves (including knowing how to better avoid disease). The survival of the fittest rules that shaped us as a species no longer apply.

 

[Handley_Page]

It puts me in mind of a group called Blue Mink
What we need is a great big Melting Pot.

 

[Kethandra]

Evolution/natural selection relies on changing environmental conditions. Technology has essentially ended human evolution because we now change the environment to suit ourselves (including knowing how to better avoid disease). The survival of the fittest rules that shaped us as a species no longer apply.

Evolutionarily, "survival of the fittest" refers to genetic material surviving in the gene pool with fitness being determined by the ability of the genetic material to increase its quantity in the pool and it's distribution among future offspring. That's a rule that has not changed.

As long as humans breed and have offspring, mixing and sharing genetic material, and as long as mutations sometimes occur, evolution cannot help but continue.

 

[TxRad]

Evolutionarily, "survival of the fittest" refers to genetic material surviving in the gene pool with fitness being determined by the ability of the genetic material to increase its quantity in the pool and it's distribution among future offspring. That's a rule that has not changed.

As long as humans breed and have offspring, mixing and sharing genetic material, and as long as mutations sometimes occur, evolution cannot help but continue.

Don't let OSHA hear you say that. They're saving stupid people from themselves so we now have third generation stupid.

 

[Hypoxia]

As long as humans breed and have offspring, mixing and sharing genetic material, and as long as mutations sometimes occur, evolution cannot help but continue.

Evolution is defined as "the survival of changes over time". Natural or determined selection is how we (or anything) get to the future. We humans select oddly. China has been selecting for male children for quite a while and now has a huge imbalance, hundreds of millions of men who will never find a mate. The social implications are horrible -- zillions of guys with nothing to lose. Plenty of plot bunnies there.

Human desires now outweigh environmental factors in our evolution. Genetic screening; sex selection; gene-tweaking -- we no longer depend on plague and war to cull the weak. We can be whatever our twisted minds wish. Dial-up your desired gender, ethnicity / shading, proportions, species. The future is fluid.

 

[sr71plt]

I'm thinking that maybe they're going to have to have gills.

 

[Hypoxia]

I'm thinking that maybe they're going to have to have gills.

Only those who return to aquatic environments. Those going into space will have different adaptations. John Varley nicely outlined some options. What sorts of biotic symbionts will we embrace?

 

[sr71plt]

Only those who return to aquatic environments. Those going into space will have different adaptations. John Varley nicely outlined some options. What sorts of biotic symbionts will we embrace?

I'm thinking the aquatic environments are going to overtake them. I'm not big on believing there were be a robust space involvement any eon soon.

 

[Hypoxia]

I'm thinking the aquatic environments are going to overtake them. I'm not big on believing there were be a robust space involvement any eon soon.

Humans will go to space after we really fuck up the planet and the transition becomes necessary for survival. Environmental despoliation will be the trigger that gets humanity off the homeworld before the next planet-busting asteroid obliterates us. You'll know the situation here is bad when Mars starts looking like desirable real estate.

The John Varley stories I mentioned are predicated on humanity being kicked off Earth by very unfriendly aliens. Stress is a great evolutionary filter. Stress folks enough and we'll do all sorts of shit to survive. If humans are stuck with a waterworld, we'll go aquatic. I know I have genes for gills in me somewhere.

 

[PervOtaku]

Evolutionarily, "survival of the fittest" refers to genetic material surviving in the gene pool with fitness being determined by the ability of the genetic material to increase its quantity in the pool and it's distribution among future offspring. That's a rule that has not changed.

As long as humans breed and have offspring, mixing and sharing genetic material, and as long as mutations sometimes occur, evolution cannot help but continue.

Go watch the movie "Idiocracy". It's satire to be sure, but all the obvious factors that biologically shape a species are no longer in play. In most of the world, food is plentiful, disease is avoidable and curable, and inhospitable climates are not a barrier. Physical fitness is no longer a primary factor, a nearsighted guy who can't run a quarter mile without getting out of breath can have a white collar desk job with a high salary. Being "successful" in life, in order to attract a fertile mate, is more a cultural consequence than a biological one. Also, geological isolation is key to the branching of species, but humans now travel all over the globe. We recognize different races of homo sapiens based on skin color and facial features, these are arguably subspecies, but mixed race children are now commonplace, leading to a more homogenized species.

Mutations are far less significant and slower to evolution than is natural selection propagated via two-parent reproduction. For a significant mutation to survive, it must convey a major advantage within an isolated geographic area. A mutation caused white-coated bears to surpass their brown-coated cousins, but only in the snowy north. Bears to the south remain brown.

All of which aside, on the scale that evolution functions on, a scifi author can easily presume large scale ecological and cultural upheaval, which could significantly drive human evolution. The future of the famous HG Wells book had its two tribes of human decedents living without even the modern comforts of when Wells wrote it.

 

[Hypoxia]

Many factors that drove human evolution in pre-civilized times may no longer apply -- but humans have been driving our evolution for many millennia, such as by infant selection. And now we add new factors, such as massive amounts of totally unnatural chemicals we've spewed into the environment. Species and human varieties that do not adapt to such substances will die. Humans are demonstrably adapting to changes in natural and social environments, foods and medicines, etc. Evolution has not ended, merely twisted.