Can anybody explain "de-evolution in the human race" to me?

Question

I have a general idea, but I need specifics!

Answer 1

the prefix de means the opposite

therefore i would say its means no change or constancy in the human race

Answer 2

Hermit is wrong. Human evolution has been very different to animal evolution, due to the complex social structures. Even in tribal and nomadic societies, the handicapped and old will be taken care of. It is more complicated than just the categorising people as or weak. Where usually everyone has their own role in whichever society, whether it be tribal Ibanese communities in Indonesia or western society in Sweden.

Due to the process of intelligence in humans, we are less likely to evolve. If the temperature in our environment decreases, instead of trying to evolve to adapt, we will manipulate our environment, in this example, wear warmer clothes, or create alternative technologies. And are therefore less susceptible to natural selection Even now there is a process of evolution occurring. Some people seem to be prone to cancers and leukaemia and others, seemingly with some sort of advantage, even though we share the same environment.

However, processes of de-evolution have started to appear - in terms of health. Both mental and physical health have become a larger concern in Western Society. The move from agricultural societies to industrial has meant that there has been a massive change in lifestyle. People in industrial society are generally not as active and may work in areas that require little if any exercise. In contrast to a society which would require hunting or farming as oppose to banking or administration.

Consumerism has also played a part, where diet is concerned, many people eat unhealthily due to additives and fats added to foods that wouldn’t have previously have been there. In addition many of us have become too reliant on the technologies acquired, for example this has meant less people are to walk to their destination if using a mode of transport is easier. Many of these factors are the cause of de-evolution, in this case obesity in the western world showing how a species can become less efficient – becoming fatter. In addition, the example used here of obesity may also even decrease life span in some cases. Increased life span is often thought of as a reflection of evolution at work.

Also there is a marked increase in mental illnesses, an example of this maybe depression or schizophrenia. This may also be a form of de-evolution. It may be argued, that our minds and bodies aren’t used to the modern rat race and for millions of years evolved a hunter gatherer mentality. The stresses endured by our modern lifestyles maybe some of the causes of these psychological traumas. Causing and creating problems which make us less effective as a species.

Both genetic drift and mutation are considered forms of evolution, however, if they are not advantageous may equally be considered to be forms de-evolution if the mutation or genetic drift are not useful or even detrimental to a species.

The reason as to why de-evolution is considered “bunk”, is due to definitions. Evolution is general just considered a form of change, simple to complex or the reverse. What de-evolution tries to do, whether successfully or unsuccessfully, is to consider whether a species, when changing has become better or worse in terms of survival.

I hope this has been of some use Holly. Best Wishes….

Answer 3

The short answer is that "devolution" is bunk!

Answer 4

Evolution popularly means going from simple to more complex or improved, and de-evolution means going from complex to simpler and crappier, although technically it all falls under the heading of evolution.

The human race evolved to cope with adversity in a large number of environments, from tropical to desert to temperate and arctic.  We evolved much larger brains than other species to cope with those different environment, as well as powerful immune systems, omnivorous digestive systems, and a s*x drive that won't quit (other species have limited breeding seasons.

But now we've become so civilized through use of our intelligence, that everything is easy, there aren't any powerful evolutionary pressures that can kill off people who can't cope.  Most people are surviving and breeding, even stupid, weak, handicapped or disabled people, who wouldn't have lived in the past - it's not the fittest who are surviving now, it's pretty much everyone.

So we are devolving, become less fit, less healthy, less intelligent - although that is a very slow process which we've just begun.

Answer 5

There is no such thing as De-evolution, Evolution just means change, whether it be from Simple-Complex, or Complex-Simple, its all just evolution.

Answer 6

The end result of evolution ultimately is extinction, as that is what has happened to 99.9% of all species that have ever lived on the earth, and eventually the Human Race will succumb to this as well!