Human evolution?

Question

Do you think that human evolution will be slowed, if not stop, due to the fact that we now adapt our environment to suit our needs, rather than adapt to our environment?

Answer 1

I've actually wondered the opposite, since we try to save every life, more people are surviving to procreate, which introduces more variables into the gene pool.

Answer 2

Human evolution will not stop but it may diverge into interesting issues.  Genetic load is one of my personal interests.  Genetic material that would have lead to death before reaching reproductive age has now been allowed to be passed on.  Crone's disease, Diabetes, MS, etc. are now being allowed to continue in the gene pool to a far greater degree than previously.  What does tis mean for human evolution?  Will we all end up with genetic disease?  Will gene modification become a necessity for all our children or grand children?  Since selection against genetic load is no longer functionng what will be the result?

Answer 3

No, humans will continue to evolve from "gene drift" if nothing else.  It is probable that genes undergoing positive selection will be more social than evironnmental as in prehistory.  Strangely recent genetic testing indicates the Bonobo & Chimpanzee have evolved more than the hominid branch of primates since the split some 5-7 million years ago.

The homonid seems to have invested far more evolution to the brain & speach abilities than other primates.  Some evolution obviously went into socialization allowing cooperation of up to 150 humans in a group compared to about 25 in most other primates.

In the final analysis all evolution depends upon a reproductive advantage of some sort... causing many to wonder if a superior gene will undergo positive selection when it occurs.

Answer 4

Evolution can never stop. We may now have technology that suit our needs, but what if something happens that made it impossible or us to keep up with it? Even if that catastrophic event never comes to place and we are able to continue in our "cozy" environment.... then there are still people who are made uncomfortable or get sick from air-controlled environments....there are still people who go crazy from close quarters with other people.... there are still new diseases that we either become immune to or get  sick and die, and that my friend is natural selection in the making.... forever and always....what is good for the goose is not always good for the gander.

Answer 5

A lot of critters are so well-adapted adapted, or the environment is so stable, that there is very little change over time. Look at sharks and roaches, for instance.

But, environments are a tricky thing. They tend to change over the long-term or on a dime. There's no guarantee that humans will always be using technology to craft the world to our liking. If our environment shifts (and this includes a technological collapse), we might see genetic adaptation that leads to new human species who are better suited to the new surroundings.

There are other factors - natural selection, isolation of human populations, etc. that would affect things, but that's a whole other post.