In what ways might the modern life-styles shape our future evolutionary adaptations?

Question

Is it possible that the human species could branch into truly different species and what behaviors and habits, if persistantly followed down through generations, might/could cause significant biological speciation?

You can get serious, or just be imaginative with this one.

Answer 1

In a lot of ways, we are short-circuiting natural selection.  People with health problems that would've been fatal in the past are producing offspring.  That's part of the reason why more and more people need eye glasses (for example).

What would happen if something (like nanotechnology or gene therapy) was developed that could drastically lengthen the human life span?  Say, to 500 years? I can easily see this leading to speciation.  The technology would only be available to the very rich.  They would provide the treatment for their offspring, who would then be effectively immortal.  They would have so much time to amass wealth and power that they would literally be in a different world.  The gap between the rich and the poor would become enormous, and the rich would choose only to mate with others who had had the treatment (thus, the very rich).  Given enough time, this distancing could drive a wedge between the rich and the poor that could lead to speciation.

Warning:  The above is nothing more than science fiction at this point.  There's no evidence to suggest that we will develop the technology that would make the scenario possible.

Answer 2

With human genome and stem cell science percolating, I anticipate so many genetic self-changes in the near future as to warrant a concern about making sure someone keeps a baseline record of what we used to be.  : )

Answer 3

Only is anthropology is this weak selection pressure in the absence of beneficial mutation seen as adaption. You need to bone up on evolutionary theory first. Evolution and evolution by natural selection is not being that effected by " our modern life style. As I said, only anthropologists seem to think so.