Question:

Most advantageous genetic trait(s) in today's urban world?

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Evolution is about adaptation. So in today's world, what human traits are the most important for adapting in the city?

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  1. Evolution is about successfully reproducing.  So the traits that will be selected for will be ones that increase reproductive success in an urban environment.

    To this end, I think communication abilities continue to be under strong selective pressure = you can't reproduce unless you can convince someone to mate with you.

    The immune system will always be important.  There is a balance necessary though:  too active means allergies, asthma, and autoimmunity.  So, genes that increase responses to dangerous microorganisms but that limit the dangers of over-active responses will be selected.

    Resistance to the health consequences of the high fat, high calorie, and high salt diet that is eaten in developed countries will be important.  So genes that provide protection from these will be selected, i.e. those who have genes that protect against diabetes should have a reproductive advantage.

    Being too violent puts one at risk of being killed or put in prison where they can't reproduce.  So genes that contribute to needlessly violent behavior - or other risky antisocial behaviors like addiction - should be selected against.

    Of course, this is all speculative and I could be totally wrong.

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