Evolution...?

[LorChan]

We won't evolve anymore. We've reached a point were instead of adapting to our surroundings, our surroundings adapt to us.

Evolution never stops. Ever. It just doesn't work like that.

OT; To be boring and plain, the next step is just probably getting rid of the appendix, and little things like longer digits.

 

[TeeBs]

Unless something really bad happens that one specific genes would be more useful then another set of genes, we can't evolve. Damn comfortable living!

 

[Burst6]

Biological evolution is too slow. It takes thousands of years to make minor changes, but it only takes decades for technology to do so. By the time evolution even gets its feet off the starting line we'll probably be flying forward with genetically engineered bodies and cyborg technology.

Either that or we'll all die from some natural/human caused disaster.

 

[NeedAUserName]

We won't evolve anymore. We've reached a point were instead of adapting to our surroundings, our surroundings adapt to us.

Evolution never stops. Ever. It just doesn't work like that.

OT; To be boring and plain, the next step is just probably getting rid of the appendix, and little things like longer digits.

Well, evolution is only necessary in a society were survival of the fittest is paramount. In a society were this isn't the case its not truly evolution. Some people might start being born with an appendix, but its highly unlikely that all of the society will.

 

[Goro]

I think our physical evolution will be far behind our societal evolution. And in that stream, we'll evolve into a bunch of fat, lazy, poorly educated misanthropes who watch people live our lives for us on television. While we're ruled by people who actually got involved.
But I'd also be really happy if we could evolve away from beards, I'm so sick of shaving!

 

[Maze1125]

We won't evolve anymore. We've reached a point were instead of adapting to our surroundings, our surroundings adapt to us.

No, technology also affects our evolution.

If we become too dependent on machines, our body deteriorates. Eventually it will reach the point until we can not live without mechanical assistance.

What would the evolutionary benefit be to being unable to live without machines?

Evolution is adaptation to your surroundings, not everything has a benefit.

No, evolution is the effect where genes that are the most effective at getting passed on end up being the ones which exist the most.

If there are no selective pressures on the genes, then the genes end up remaining in the same proportions.

What selective pressure would exist to force out all the effective human genes leaving us completely an able to live without machines?

 

[viking97]

well i'm pretty sure sexual selection is the only process that still holds any significance, so umm, ya.

i doubt any changes will happen anytime soon tho because the human pop. is so damn huge now and any person can travel to anywhere else whenever they like so genetic drift is practically non-existent.
i wouldn't be very surprised if a time traveler goes into the next thousand years and finds that the average man is exactly the same.

 

[Twilight_guy]

Well, probably the loss of our tails and resistance to current major diseases like cancer. I'm not sure when it will happen though since tools have, arguably, made evolution go wonky for us.

 

[kypsilon]

Psionics...psychic powers. Not Earth-shattering abilities mind you, but the tame stuff, energy reading, seeing energy as a visible spectrum, sensing things with acute clarity and potentially the ability to sense thoughts.

 

[LorChan]

We won't evolve anymore. We've reached a point were instead of adapting to our surroundings, our surroundings adapt to us.

Evolution never stops. Ever. It just doesn't work like that.

OT; To be boring and plain, the next step is just probably getting rid of the appendix, and little things like longer digits.

Well, evolution is only necessary in a society were survival of the fittest is paramount. In a society were this isn't the case its not truly evolution. Some people might start being born with an appendix, but its highly unlikely that all of the society will.

Even without regards to adaptation (and we would still adapt, seeing as our bodies still aren't perfect) there's still the natural trends that go through our species simply by chance. IE, if more red-heads have sex, the genes for that hair colour will be more promenant in the species, and those red-headed children will grow up and have their own red-headed children, etc. Obviously not the greatest example, as I know that red hair is a pretty recessive gene, but you get my point. We always evolve and change just by whoever happened to have sex with whoever else. This is why some traits are previlent in different places in the world. We no longer have quite so much 'adapting' to do, as that kind a evolution is brought about by humans without certain traits being killed off before they could mate, and everyone is pretty much safe from everything except illness these days.

 

[Kadamon]

You know how the WH40k Space Marines have acid spit?
That. Acid spit. It's essential.

 

[Kurokami]

So Earth has been around for a pretty long time, yea? Scientists and other good folk have traced the evolution of man, among other things, back to several millenia ago.

Whether primates were our ancestors or not, or we came from the sea originally, humankind has evolved through the times and will (if we don't destroy our planet) continue to do so. But we're not perfect, and it has been a while since we last evolved.

So I pose this question, to you, my fellow Escapists;

What do you think will be the next step in the human evolution, and when will it happen?
[sub]Take a guess or give us some scientific mumbo-jumbo! Throw it out here.[/sub]

Edit: Can't be bothered to be scientific? Then just post what you think would be cool! That'll work too.

We've got tools and so on to help us with our inadequacies, evolution's no longer really needed so I can't really predict what'll happen, apparently we are all going to become less and less different (physically) though as time goes on.

 

[Denamic]

We're way more likely to become cyborgs before we see any evolutionary changes.
At most such technology is, what, a couple of hundred years off, while evolution takes thousands of years.

 

[higgs20]

We won't evolve anymore. We've reached a point were instead of adapting to our surroundings, our surroundings adapt to us.

this, we only survived this long because this long because we stopped adapting biologically, on any kind of large scale.

actually sod that i want 4 hearts and the ability to breath fire, it's the only logical next step.

 

[Maze1125]

We won't evolve anymore. We've reached a point were instead of adapting to our surroundings, our surroundings adapt to us.

No, technology also affects our evolution.

If we become too dependent on machines, our body deteriorates. Eventually it will reach the point until we can not live without mechanical assistance.

What would the evolutionary benefit be to being unable to live without machines?

Evolution is adaptation to your surroundings, not everything has a benefit.

No, evolution is the effect where genes that are the most effective at getting passed on end up being the ones which exist the most.

If there are no selective pressures on the genes, then the genes end up remaining in the same proportions.

What selective pressure would exist to force out all the effective human genes leaving us completely an able to live without machines?

The theory does not explain that.

Yes it does.

However, it does suggest technology effecting the evolution of our species. There is also another Theory suggesting we can die of a biological ticking time bomb if we stay on earth too long as well.

There is also a trend that physical attributes doesn't affect mating like it used to. As in, everyone fucks everyone. There is no push for muscle, no push for athleticism. Granted there is some people who want that but not the same push as it was in history. If anything i would guess it would be that, sexual selection and cultural change. Muscle doesn't get you anywhere anymore. it is intelligence, personality, and charisma that bring success now. granted this is only a quick observation.

Evolution isn't affected solely by animals eating other animals. Culture, sexual selection, etc play a part in it. Evolution can never be truly stopped. If sex or reproduction exists, evolution will be there regardless of technology.

You haven't addressed the issue in the slightest.

You claimed that we would evolve to become unable to live without machines, but you haven't once given, explained or justified any process that could result in that. You're just pulling the claim out of thin air.

No, we have no real need for muscle any more, but that doesn't mean it will disappear from our genes. There would have to be some selective pressure against muscle for that to happen.

 

[The Random One]

There are already people born without canine teeth.

They are welcome at Professor Xavier's Academy for Humans Without Canine Teeth.

 

[Astoria]

Isn't there something about humans evolving so we can absorb less fat when we eat or something? Probably makes the most sense.

 

[MintyNinja]

I evolved a heart defect!


...wait, what?

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Let's admit it. Idiots get more sex. It's why Jersey Shore is so popular. But it can't go on, or in millions of yeas all that will be left of mankind will be douche bags with fake tan on.

It wont go on that long. If all that were left were them, then they would have died thinking that fake tan spray was edible.

Webbed hands and feet coupled with gills, rising ocean levels and all.

 

[William Dickbringer]

Let's admit it. Idiots get more sex. It's why Jersey Shore is so popular. But it can't go on, or in millions of yeas all that will be left of mankind will be douche bags with fake tan on.

hmmm why does the south park episode it's a jersey thing keep popping up in my head
O.T. Idiocracy kinda pointed it out a little