Is human evolution speeding up or slowing down?

[Rotadom]

Short 5 minute YouTube video from a Ted Talk.

 

[Islander55]

The way things are going it may be coming to a complete stop.

 

[Lazaran]

.

Evolving into what???

Adaptation got us to the apex and at that point the need to drastically adapt or evolve to survive was eliminated thus turning off the mechanisms in our bodies that control rapid adaptation or evolution. Sure there have been some minor adaptations to facilitate living in certain environments, but really nothing major, like the development of functioning gills.

So yeah, I would say evolution has slowed, but with increasing stressors in the environment, it could start speeding up again. Although even then I doubt it would be as monumental of a change as walking upright.

 

[Not Normal]

I think we're Devolving.

 

[jaF0]

I think we're Devolving.

Beat me to it. Fuckwits and the 'Tube shit and 'TED talks' whatever the fuck those are proves the point that humans are doomed.

http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/episodes/caps_tng/riker-genesis.jpg

 

[TheShez]

Technology is evolving rapidly. Inversely we have slowed to a crawl. Remember, only stupid people are breeding. I have three kids!

 

[Rainblow]

There is a natural resistance to hepatitis B in certain parts of China. Higher than in other parts of the world. Evolution in action?

The prevalence rates of natural drug-resistant mutations in CHB patients were found to be varied in different areas of China (from 2.01% to 8.9%).2,3 A meta-analysis revealed that the pooled incidence of natural resistance mutations in China is higher than those in other countries (8.00% vs 1.88%).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5733919/

 

[ag2507]

Small populations

Evolution works fastest in small populations where an advantageous gene can replicate rapidly or in a larger population where a widespread gene is not eliminated. so, in general our population in billions is not conducive to useful evolution, if fact, it encourages bad genes which should be eliminated to continue.

There are few genetic traces of the Roman Occupation of Britain because enough generations have occurred since to minimize the survival of these genes. Ironically we carry a lot of bad genes from neanderthals because they are widespread and never quite eliminated, we carry genes that appeared thousands of years ago to overcome a local problem but which in a changed climate are actually quite bad. (Sycle Cell Anemia). Europeans carry Haemachromatosis in response to Anemia but now of little use. Only Europeans and Asian Indians can process lactose yet white western food conglomerates and pharma companies insist on stuffing lactose into our food.

One interesting effect is modern medicine is encouraging genes which should die out: the most obvious is pelvis size/ baby head size. The widespread use of cesarean operations has led to an average reduction in pelvis size in women and increased fetus size both of which would normally be fatal. Once western medicine fails or medicine becomes privatised, there will be dramatic increase in childbirth deaths as a significant number of women will never be able to give birth naturally: that is evolution in action.

 

[Saint_Ann]

Im working on a theory that the autistic brain is the next step in human development.

 

[Islander55]

Evolution is all about adaptations that allow you to breed more. These days I suspect our strongest and brightest are not breeding more than average schmucks. I guess our gene pool has become pretty diverse but I am not sure I am seeing much improvement..

 

[Biggs_Darklighter]

There is a natural resistance to hepatitis B in certain parts of China. Higher than in other parts of the world. Evolution in action?

The prevalence rates of natural drug-resistant mutations in CHB patients were found to be varied in different areas of China (from 2.01% to 8.9%).2,3 A meta-analysis revealed that the pooled incidence of natural resistance mutations in China is higher than those in other countries (8.00% vs 1.88%).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5733919/

You're gonna have to point out where in there it says there is a natural resistance to HBV cuz I sure as fuck didn't see it. I did see natural mutations that are resistant to drugs which happens a lot and yes it's evolution but not how you're thinking.

 

[Rainblow]

You're gonna have to point out where in there it says there is a natural resistance to HBV cuz I sure as fuck didn't see it. I did see natural mutations that are resistant to drugs which happens a lot and yes it's evolution but not how you're thinking.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14655191/

 

[schism666]

Im working on a theory that the autistic brain is the next step in human development.

q will never be human let alone evolve.

 

[waelen]

Short 5 minute YouTube video from a Ted Talk.

Interesting talk, I would say speeding up, but maybe not in the way we would want it to?

 

[jomar]

Im working on a theory that the autistic brain is the next step in human development.

Aspie = trendy for awhile now

 

[JohnnySavage]

Our environment and bodies have been polluted by plastics and chemicals ("fragrance" and "natural flavors"), so to the extent that evolution is speeding up, it's to propagate the genetics that are (more) resistant to those compounds.

 

[dolf]

Im working on a theory that the autistic brain is the next step in human development.

It's true. I'm the upgrade.

 

[Curmudgeonly]

If this place is of any indication, the only evolution that humankind is gaining is hubris.

 

[HisArpy]

At the last Summer Olympics some commentator was saying that sprinters have gotten faster because the human race has adapted to our current climate. They were also saying that Hussein Bolt was "on paper" 2 or 3 generations faster than modern sprinters given the rate of speed increases since the Games began.

Then they tossed in that there were a couple of other sprinters who'd shown up and were giving Bolt competition and even beating him. Those sprinters were on the scene sooner than the graphical curve said they should be. And more were starting to show up at the lower levels.

So yes, we're evolving faster because we're adapting faster. The adaptations are occurring because we've created a world that's changing very fast and we need to keep up physically and mentally.

No one knows at this point what the human race will be like in even as little as 100 years. We can't even guess.

 

[LLCox]

Evolution is all fluff... money, cars, fashion, electronics. We still like to kill each other.

https://www.dailyherald.com/storyimage/DA/20120103/news/799996315/AR/0/AR-799996315.jpg&updated=201201030626&MaxW=900&maxH=900&noborder&Q=80

 

[RobDownSouth]

At the last Summer Olympics some commentator was saying that sprinters have gotten faster because the human race has adapted to our current climate. They were also saying that Hussein Bolt was "on paper" 2 or 3 generations faster than modern sprinters given the rate of speed increases since the Games began.

Then they tossed in that there were a couple of other sprinters who'd shown up and were giving Bolt competition and even beating him. Those sprinters were on the scene sooner than the graphical curve said they should be. And more were starting to show up at the lower levels.

So yes, we're evolving faster because we're adapting faster. The adaptations are occurring because we've created a world that's changing very fast and we need to keep up physically and mentally.

No one knows at this point what the human race will be like in even as little as 100 years. We can't even guess.

The Human Genome project discovered the "elite athlete gene" called the ACTN3 gene (stands for "alpha-actinin-3 protein"). It allows muscles to produce their own protein under exertion.

Virtually all athletes at the highest level have this gene, particularly in fast-twitch muscle sports (sprinting and non-distance events). The difference is not notable at the average runner level, it gives at most a two to three percent performance advantage. In sports where fractions of seconds count, though, it is a literal game-changer.

Russians have been using this genetic screening since 2008 to identify potential power lifters.

 

[ag2507]

Im working on a theory that the autistic brain is the next step in human development.

An Interesting take though autism has been around for a loooong time. It certainly wouldn't have survived if there wasn't an advantage. Most bravery award recipients are somewhere on the spectrum, able to function when 'normals' are frozen in an emotional storm. Also doctors and PhDs are often well along the spectrum able to concentrate intensely on one subject for hours on end - 120 hour weeks and being able to quote Grey's Anatomy verbatim is not something your average 'normal' can do. No wonder Docs are known for their scintillating bedside manner. In genetic terms there is no single Autism gene: hundreds and thousands of 'errors' essentially leading to slow firing synapses. A bit like redhead genetics, that's an agglomeration of genes rather than a single identifiable trait.
Sadly Autism trends with schizophrenia so your Autism is really a coin toss with a good call.