Comments | ichijoji_chan: Are humans still evolving?

ichijoji_chan

Are humans still evolving?

Jan 11, 2007 20:16

I get the overall impression that most people think humans aren't evolving anymore, due to the way we care for our sick. I've been in classes where the question was thrown out there, and people just don't seem sure, or they think if it happens, it happens in 3rd world nations, not here ( Read more... )

Comments 8

bubbajam January 12 2007, 02:35:25 UTC

I think it's funny, anyone the cries about evolution getting broken, since when does having a broader gene pool count as a bad thing?

also: no breaking that car!

ichijoji_chan January 13 2007, 13:47:30 UTC

The car is okay now, the problem was my step dad had clamped in a cheap ass rubber hose where a metal hose was supposed to be screwed on, to deal with the pressure from the transmission. So the transmission fluid ended up dumped all over the road when the pressure blew the rubber hose off. We've now replaced it with the correct part.

catgirlpink January 12 2007, 21:02:53 UTC

I think the idea that humans are not evolving anymore, due mainly to the way we care for our sick, is accurate.

Take your example of poisons, from long ago. Humans who thought poisons tasted good all died. Humans who thought they were bitter and nasty survived. Natural selection, as you say.

Now look at things today. Humans who think smoking is good ought to die, but they die much too slowly. They survive long enough to reproduce. Humans who think smoking is awful ought to survive. Yet we suffer the after-effects of the idiots around us who won't get away, and we cannot get away from. Thus some humans who hate smoking will die. No natural selection.

Humans who have genetic disorders or terminal ailments are cared for. People love each other. Reproduction happens in the time span they are kept alive. Natural selection defeated.

bubbajam January 13 2007, 02:25:10 UTC

I think your just saying humans aren't evolving by your personal standards of how it should be.

catgirlpink January 15 2007, 13:19:04 UTC

Personal standards? I don't understand.
Do these examples not fit the definition of evolution by natural selection?
What would another standard be?

ichijoji_chan January 18 2007, 14:08:08 UTC

It's like this Jen... things we like, such as being smarter, stronger, kinder, having longer lives, being genetically biased to be thinner...or what have you, aren't always "better ( ... )

Thread 6