Are human beings done evolving?

[The_Absolute]

Is the homo-sapien the final stage of human evolution? I've heard of a hypothetical "homo-superior," but I'm not sure if that is actual science or pseudoscience.

 

[mgb_phys]

Is the homo-sapien the final stage of human evolution?

No.
But remember that evolution isn't aiming at superior - it's aiming for more babies. So you might be evolving to be immune to the pill

I've heard of a hypothetical "homo-superior," but I'm not sure if that is actual science or pseudoscience.

The term is a bit pseudoscience, you would presumably be able to mate with it - so it's not really a new species.

 

[hamster143]

The key mechanism of evolution is natural selection. Natural selection means that a significant number of newborns in the species must either die before reaching adulthood, or fail to create offspring for whatever reason. That way, the fittest survive and mate, and the unfit die childless.

That's the way things work in the animal world, and that's the way things worked in the human world up until 1800 or so.

Starting around 1800, first developed countries started hitting the early stages of what came to be known as "demographic transition". It's a transformation of society from high birth-rate, high death-rate (think 8 children/woman, infant mortality 20%, etc. - ugly) to low birth-rate, low death-rate (1.5 children/woman, infant mortality zero). Once the demographic transition is complete, evolution stops. It stops because children no longer die and there are enough mates for anyone who's willing to mate. In some sense, what we have now is de-evolution of sorts - because intelligent and successful people voluntarily have fewer children than welfare moms.

The same transition process is underway in almost all developing and third-world countries, it started much later (1950's or so), but it's going at a faster rate and within 50 years many third-world countries will join us at the dead end of the evolutionary tree.

 

[russ_watters]

Once the demographic transition is complete, evolution stops. It stops because children no longer die and there are enough mates for anyone who's willing to mate.

No. That doesn't eliminate competition for mates, nor does it address the impact of other impediments to mating, such as health issues.

Evolutionary pressures may function differently today than a few hundred years ago, but they still function.

 

[xxChrisxx]

Evolution has no goal, therefore it has no end.

It's merely change over time through natural selection.

In some sense, what we have now is de-evolution of sorts - because intelligent and successful people voluntarily have fewer children than welfare moms.

There is no such thing. Evolution is change. It doesn't state the change has to be good.It's interesting to note that technology had skewed things slightly with regards to evolution. We have developed to a point where we no longer adapt to our surroindings, we adapt our surroundings to suit us. Whether long term this will make any difference what so ever, is yet to be seen.

for example, both my fiancee and I are very short sighted. In the past this would have put us at a significant disadvantage, but thanks to technology it's no longer such a huge problem.

 

[hamster143]

There is no such thing. Evolution is change. It doesn't state the change has to be good.

Normally, evolution implies adaptation for the environment. What we have is a process that makes humans as a whole less adapted to function in the modern environment, because those least adapted have children and those most adapted do not.

Of course, if you wish to define evolution as any kind of change, that is evolution.

That doesn't eliminate competition for mates, nor does it address the impact of other impediments to mating, such as health issues.

You can say that it slows significantly. Competition for mates is not eliminated, but we're at the point where it no longer plays any selective role. In a wolf pack, an alpha male wolf would mate with all the females of the pack and an omega male would not get to mate at all. There's strong advantage to be an alpha male. In a modern human society, 95 out of 100 end up married and having children (or not, depending on their preferences), and their children have close to 100% chance of surviving to adulthood.

Impediments to mating are few and far between, and, thanks to our modern medicine, things that would've been major impediments to mating, and sometimes even life, such as Down's syndrome or haemophilia, are no longer such.

 

[alxm]

Yes, there's this pervasive but wrong idea that evolution somehow has a 'goal' and that there's some kind of universal criteria in nature for what's better or worse.

Evolution doesn't stop, go forward, or go backward. It just happens, and depending on natural selection and the environment, things may change or not. If you think a certain development is good or bad, those are your values, not Evolution's. Why is smarter better? It doesn't seem like Nature has put a big premium on that particular trait. Why not, say, stability? In which case, horseshoe crabs are superior to us. Or all-around hardiness? Then cockroaches are better.

The other pervasive mistaken tendency, is to assume that Evolution works in terms of properties we think are important properties. Things we think are important are sometimes a mere side-effect in evolving some less obvious trait that happens to be more important to survival. Or perhaps just a result of a chance event in our evolutionary history. (Blond hair may only exist because of an ice age)

Sure, we'd all like to have more intelligence, all else being equal. But we don't know that all else can be equal! We don't know how intelligence works or how it's related to genetics, so we simply don't know what the trade-offs would be.

 

[xxChrisxx]

Normally, evolution implies adaptation for the environment. What we have is a process that makes humans as a whole less adapted to function in the modern environment, because those least adapted have children and those most adapted do not.

Of course, if you wish to define evolution as any kind of change, that is evolution.

Evolution does not progress to criteria YOU select as desirable, or what YOU consider to be 'most adapted'.

And what I said isn't my definiton, it's the scientific definiton.
"In biology, evolution is change in the genetic material of a population of organisms from one generation to the next."

"In the broadest sense, evolution is merely change, and so is all-pervasive; galaxies, languages, and political systems all evolve. Biological evolution ... is change in the properties of populations of organisms that transcend the lifetime of a single individual. The ontogeny of an individual is not considered evolution; individual organisms do not evolve. The changes in populations that are considered evolutionary are those that are inheritable via the genetic material from one generation to the next. Biological evolution may be slight or substantial; it embraces everything from slight changes in the proportion of different alleles within a population (such as those determining blood types) to the successive alterations that led from the earliest protoorganism to snails, bees, giraffes, and dandelions."

- Douglas J. Futuyma in Evolutionary Biology, Sinauer Associates 1986

"In fact, evolution can be precisely defined as any change in the frequency of alleles within a gene pool from one generation to the next."

- Helena Curtis and N. Sue Barnes, Biology, 5th ed. 1989 Worth Publishers, p.974

 

[Sorry!]

Evolution does not progress to criteria YOU select as desirable, or what YOU consider to be 'most adapted'.

And what I said isn't my definiton, it's the scientific definiton.
"In biology, evolution is change in the genetic material of a population of organisms from one generation to the next."

Well put. It should be noted not everything hamster has said is wrong however. Yes natural selection is not a major driving force for human evolution. This does not however mean that evolution has stopped, merely it's slowed down... gotten more refined. Take for instance: The gene CCR5-32, this offers resistance to HIV-1.

@OP, Yes evolution is always going. It used to be a common held position that human evolution stopped around 50,000 years ago. Prior to this 'races' as we know today had not developed yet. The reason the position was held was to ensure in public light that all races are equal... it's more of a political stance than scientific but I'm sure you understand the consequences of saying for instance that 'the --- race evolved further than the others', or 'the --- race evolved this which is better than --- race.' Just leads to a lot of non-sense.

However back when I took anthropology we learned that humans have indeed evolved, even our modern species has evolved. We humans now are homo-sapien-sapien. There was another sub-species of homo-sapiens, I have forgotten the term but they went extinct.

Research has indicated that modern humans are still evolving, look up these genes: microcephalin, ASPM(All CAPS; so not Aspm), the gene I spoke of earlier CCR5-32, HLA-B27... there are a bunch more.

As well there is such a term as 'reverse evolution' it's not very popular but some people do use it and it does exist out there. It came out when we begun asking this very question, 'if we are still evolving and what effect does technology have on evolution.' Since babies who should have died have been allowed to live we are 'going against' evolution. The argument in this case isn't that evolution has a direction or a goal but we are fighting against evolution entirely but not allowing it to fully take its course. This term is of course up for debate and I'd rather not take a stance on it...

Here are some links to those genes I spoke of incase you didn't feel like looking for them yourselves:
CCR5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CCR5#CCR5-.CE.9432
ASPM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASPM_(Gene)
Microcephalin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcephalin
HLA-B27 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HLA-B27 (This is a 'protected' variant of th HLA-B gene which allows females to better clear HIV infection than those with HLA-A or C gene variants.)

A better question in my opinion is if we well ever face more speciation. Absent large external pressure I highly doubt we will see any further speciation... but things can't stay perfect forever . I wonder if we will ever see speciation occur during our 'scientific observational period' if you will. (so from ancient history to the future when we have been using scientific methods to observe and not just based on fossils...)

 

[hamster143]

Take for instance: The gene CCR5-32, this offers resistance to HIV-1.

Yes, this is a genuine example of evolution. It is also an excellent example why evolution is much slower today than a few hundred years ago.

If HIV-1 epidemic were to start in 1500, within 50 or 100 years the entire world's population (except Australia and some Oceanian islands) would've been infected. Any resistance gene would've offered significant survival advantage to its carriers, those without it would've died out, and within another 100 years it would've gone from an obscure gene to something nearly universal.

Today, less than 1% of the population even gets infected to begin with (thanks to the sex-ed and public outreach), which greatly reduces the significance of the gene, and we can hope to find a cure or a vaccine that stops the virus completely, without need for evolution.

A better question in my opinion is if we well ever face more speciation. Absent large external pressure I highly doubt we will see any further speciation... but things can't stay perfect forever .

One crucial requirement for speciation is to have multiple groups evolve in genetic isolation from each other. And even then speciation is mind-numbingly slow. Australian aboriginal peoples and Europeans have been evolving in relative isolation from each other for about 50,000 years, and yet they do not constitute separate species (they interbreed easily and give fertile offspring).

Hypothetically speaking, we could very well see some speciation if we try to colonize the galaxy using sub-light ships. A population of humans evolving in isolation on some remote planet that takes ten or twenty years to reach from the nearest other star, exposed to unusual threats (toxins, bacteria, radiation), could very well speciate off in a few thosands of years, especially if they "go native" and reverse the demographic transition.

 

[russ_watters]

You can say that it slows significantly. Competition for mates is not eliminated, but we're at the point where it no longer plays any selective role.

No! Competition for mates is everything, even with humans. Just because there are equal numbers of males and females, that doesn't mean everyone gets the mate they want or even necessarily mate at all! That's absurd.

In a wolf pack, an alpha male wolf would mate with all the females of the pack and an omega male would not get to mate at all. There's strong advantage to be an alpha male. In a modern human society, 95 out of 100 end up married and having children (or not, depending on their preferences), and their children have close to 100% chance of surviving to adulthood.

So then not all mate...so then evolution still matters...

Impediments to mating are few and far between, and, thanks to our modern medicine, things that would've been major impediments to mating, and sometimes even life, such as Down's syndrome or haemophilia, are no longer such.

We've just switched-out one set of factors for another.

 

[hamster143]

Competition for mates is everything, even with humans. Just because there are equal numbers of males and females, that doesn't mean everyone gets the mate they want or even necessarily mate at all! That's absurd.

There's no requirement for everyone to get the mate they want. There's still competition for mates, but it's just a game with no evolutionary consequences (and, sometimes, with perverse evolutionary consequences) - just because I don't get Chelsea Clinton or Beyonce Knowles, does not mean that my genes are worse off. It may mean that my genes are slightly better off, because the person I do end up marrying might give me 4 children, and that would've been less likely, had I been a "winner" of the game.

So then not all mate...so then evolution still matters...

The question then becomes, why do the remaining 5% fail to mate? Is it because of their genetic weaknesses, or some environmental reasons?

Assuming the former, here's a mathematical problem. Imagine two societies. In society A, the least adapted 5% fail to mate. In society B, the least adapted 50% of all children die before the age of 20. Compare rates of evolution in societies A and B.

 

[The_Absolute]

Poor, and uneducated people have many more children than wealthy, and educated people. Such as is often the case in third-world countries, especially in rural Africa. Thus, creating more poverty, starvation, disease, and crime.

 

[BoomBoom]

... Thus, creating more poverty, starvation, disease, and crime.

I would contend that none of these things are genetic traits. ASAIK, there is no 'poor' gene.

 

[xxChrisxx]

Poor, and uneducated people have many more children than wealthy, and educated people. Such as is often the case in third-world countries, especially in rural Africa. Thus, creating more poverty, starvation, disease, and crime.

This is again, criteria that YOU define as bad, and is therefore irrelevant to evolution.

 

[Eddbio]

The human population has increased massively in recent times and therefore so has the number of potential mutations. In addition we are living longer and having children at older ages. The older you get before having children the higher the chances of mutations occurring. The reduction in selection presures on humans has made evolution more random but not removed it. Variation amongst human beings may well be increasing.

There was a good case study involving the removal of a selection presure on a species of butterly but I am afraid I can't remember the name. The patterns on the butterfly wings increased until it was reapplied. Due to the removal of a predator I think.

You could consider the amount of chemical pollution in the environment increasing mutations? Or the masking of peoples smells/pheromones by using perfumes and deoderants, perhaps you might not be put off by your cousins smell until it is too late. The effects of religion and culture on human mate choices. Do attractive people have less children and who has the most (hillbillies)?

 

[Eddbio]

The Fritillary butterfly I believe.

 

[mgb_phys]

The effects of religion and culture on human mate choices.

Ironic that a tenancy toward religion and having large families could be an evolutionary trait !

 

[gravenewworld]

Some humans are almost immune to HIV. Form of evolution?

 

[Rasalhague]

Here are a couple of articles I came across recently, one of which suggests that rather than halting, human evolution may actually be accelerating!

"Hundreds of Human Genes Still Evolving"
http://www.livescience.com/health/060308_human_evolve.html

"Humans still evolving as our brains shrink"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33916577/ns/technology_and_science-science/

(The assumption in the latter that a smaller brain size implies less intelligence conflicts with other stuff I've read. In comparing species, mention is often made of brain size relative to body size; I don't know if there's been any corresponding change in body size over the last 10 000 years.)

 

[rokag3]

hello,
I have done a personal research on artificial inteligence in the field of "common sense" where Marvin Minsky is my heroe.
I am atheist.
One of the question I try to answear was :what sort of very simple strategy could I use to make my system evolving ?
And then came the strategy of "charming prince(sse)"
i will refer to my" looking for mate desesperately system"
let's say that between age 0 and age of reproduction i will :"validate my surrounding" this with my senses but also the behaviour in different situations and this independantly of any moral consideration ex:My father beat women. At age of reproduction, the fact that i reach this point is the only validation,i close my file.
then let's find a mate(nothing hot here)
every time i will find a potential partner having at least one element in my (hiden) list then my "mate motor" will take the upperhand (this is the highest priority job, my reason to be) and then all my intelectual power will be focus on finding others elements in my list. It may stop abruptly (this make me suspecting the presence of a dark prince(sse)but i have not find a simple strategy to build it(antinomy with a validate element?))
If i find enough point in my list then i will be in the state of "coup de foudre"
This strategy very simple explain some strange observation like this girl that can be in love(to know if you are in love you just have to answear honestly to yourself
do i want to reproduce with this person? if you have to think then you are not in love.)
οnly with men that beat her despite the fact she is cleaver well educated and so and so.
This primitive strategy is VERY effective and add a sociologic dimension to the evolution.

I never publish to leasy for that(LOL)

 

[hamster143]

Here are a couple of articles I came across recently, one of which suggests that rather than halting, human evolution may actually be accelerating!

Actually it says that human evolution accelerated about 40,000 years ago. This was a period of major change, and, during most of it, natural selection was firing on all cylinders. There's no contradiction with the possibility of a recent halt. In fact, most of the genes mentioned in either of the articles (ability to digest lactose & starches, resistance to malaria, lighter skin) are no longer positively selected for in any except the most primitive societies.

 

[Proton Soup]

Ironic that a tenancy toward religion and having large families could be an evolutionary trait !

religion is a way of passing culture on from one generation to the next. not only is culture vital to development of intelligence, but much of the knowledge passed on is vital to survival. a large family is then a product of your health and your ability to procure resources (knowledge, culture, intelligence).

 

[Eddbio]

Ironic that a tenancy toward religion and having large families could be an evolutionary trait !

How much do our genes have an ability to create an extended phenotype ((culture) or should that be memotype) that benefits the carrier to procreate more? Does like stick to like personality wise?

I have wondered about how our genes relate to our personality types and how these affect our culture. Which types dominate at present? In the modern age what effects are promiscuousnous and the less community minded having on the genepool (providing that these personalities are affected strongly enough by the genes to override the environmental effects overal; the irony) seeing as being community minded is less of a survival trait in the modern world.

I have studied Behavioural Biology and was taught about evolutionary stable strategies in the social behaviours of animals. Reciprocity on a tit for tat basis was thought to be the most stable (as opposed to cheat and alturist.

E.g. the vampire bat dies if it does not feed after a few days. Therefore they have evolved to help a fellow (hopefully related) vampire bat if it is hungry by vomiting up some of its meal in the hope that this favour will be returned. If it is not then it will receive no more favours from that particular bat.

In the modern society however, there are many more people than at any time in history and who are highly mobile and therefore tend to be unrelated. Thus enableing Cheats to succeed and not be singled out as harshly. But I suppose they would have to be gaining in a way as to be able to reproduce more effectively. I have read in the newspapers recently that men with high testosterone are more honest and play more fairly. (It is only the belief that they have high testosterone that makes them aggressive; a cultural affect). Women prefer men who have higher testosterone. So I suppose you would have to weigh up whether a woman would prefer a successful cheat or a man who has higher testosterone but has not succeeded (yet?). Ladies? Though you might argue over who has been choosing who in our evolutionry and cultural past.

Normally the behaviours deviate around a mean and do not effectively change over time except perhaps when looking at smaller groups. So I would say that as our culture has changed so much of late we are in a new state of flux and that this evolutionary mix of cheats, alturists and reciprocants has not yet reached its new stable level. I wonder when our culture will reach a stablility in this fashion if it hasn't already.

Does anyone know any studies relating to this complexity?

 

[Eddbio]

I suppose the question might be;

'Is human culture currently the driving force of human evolution?'

 

[rokag3]

'Is human culture currently the driving force of human evolution?'

This is what i believe to be THE specificity of sapiens sapiens!
Also if the brain is shrinking we should focus at the quality of the organisational network of the brain.
Last I am asking myself for many years something completely crazy.
Considering that some structures are almost ready in the brain of the animals and human.We cannot refute completely the existence of a system of transmission of ready to use mental structure.Most of these are simple feedbacks(regulation of temperature,research of the milk)some are much more sophisticated (ability to work for the gnu cub.). the point will be what is the maximum level of complexity that can be "prewired"? what is the mechanism of transmission of those "prewired structure"? Some strange phenomenon like peple that speak foreign language under hypnose (I, like you believe that this is "trick") or "past lives" could some of those phenomenon (if real dixit a protocol of validation) been explain by an unknow (and therefore to be discover)mechanism of transmission?
Also to continue with Marvin Minsky the evolution of the sapiens sapiens might be to be the element of the next generation of the edge of evolution.
I think it's Marvin Minsky who define inteligence as
The automatic derivate property of any ensemble of specialized agents communicating in network.
then bees are not clever but bee house is, neuronnes are not clever but brain is, employees are not clever(at least when they work) but the Big Corps is clever.
Since those Big Corps controls media economy and judiciary they are allready the dominant (my advice)

 

[gato_]

Genetic evolution probably never came to an end. But is it important anymore? My point is, genetic evolution is so slow, that we have hardly varied at all since we became human (guess some people will complain about that statement). However, human species have evolved a lot by other means, mainly communication and society, the knowledge we keep as a species in overall. Genetic changes take generations, while we all have seen knowledge and beliefs changing incredibly fast. Some people even consider thoughts to be evolving beings, though they obviously don't qualify for living things. Evolution stumbled upon a great hazardous discovery, thinking, and that chosed us as species over the rest. Rational communication has hacked natural selection, because it allows us to survive, by building communities. And there is a chance, which I strongly believe to be possible, that this knowledge will progress to the point of allowing us to regulate the cell's metabolism, or even to redesign it if required (ver sci fi, I know, but it is definitely not impossible), leaving us control of traditional evolution. So I don't think evolution dissapeared, it just found the fast lane

 

[ViewsofMars]

Populations evolve. I wish to touch base on a very important issue that has been earlier mentioned on this topic. The word poverty. I've been doing some extentive research and recently located the following that concerns me.

END CHILD POVERTY
The Effects- Poverty and Life Chances

•Poverty shortens lives. A boy in Manchester can expect to live seven years less than a boy in Barnet. A girl in Manchester can expect to live six years less than a girl in Kensington Chelsea and Westminster.
•Poor children are born too small; birth weight is on average 130 grams lower in children from social classes IV and V. Low birth weight is closely associated with infant death and chronic diseases in later life.
•Poverty shapes children's development. Before reaching his or her second birthday, a child from a poorer family is already more likely to show a lower level of attainment than a child from a better-off family. By the age of six a less able child from a rich family is likely to have overtaken an able child born into a poor family.
•Children aged up to 14 from unskilled families are 5 times more likely to die in an accident than children from professional families, and 15 times more likely to die in a fire at home.
•Children growing up in poverty are more likely to leave school at 16 with fewer qualifications.
•2% of couples and 8% of lone parents cannot afford two pairs of shoes for each child.
•12% of lone parents cannot afford celebrations with presents at special occasions. Mark Family and Children Study, 2004, www.dwp.gov.uk/asad/asd5/rrs2006.asp#facs2004[/URL].
[PLAIN]http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/why-end-child-poverty/the-effects

As a global community, how do we end poverty? It crushes me to think that many children are dying or without adequate resources that sustain a healthy life.

 

[mugaliens]

As a global community, how do we end poverty?

The widespread effects of poverty are well-known. However, the cause of poverty is also well-known, as is the cure.

Causes:

1. Greed (desire to excess)

2. Poor work ethic

Whenever those who're in the money/power avoid excesses and take it upon themselves to ensure those under their care are well-cared for, but not to excess, and are properly managed and motivated, production increases and the wealth continues to increase. However, whenever those who're in the money/power crave excess, those under their care go further into poverty while the overall wealth will slow, then reverse, if that regime isn't toppled first, either from the outside or inside.

As for "poor work ethic," the world is full of rags to riches stories, whereby one or more people in an impoverished group said, "I've had enough!" and instead of relying on handouts, began scrambling up the levels.

Two years into college, I stopped by a good friend of mine from high school. He'd been valedictorian, but had flunked out of college and was working as a gas station attendant. I thought, "You got to be kidding me..."

At the time, I was having difficulty making ends meet, and was considering dropping out to work full time, but I knew if I did I'd never be able to save enough to go back to school full-time without working. So instead, I got a part-time job and finished working my way through college (full time during the summers) while cutting WAY back on expenses. I squeeked through, financially, found a great job, worked hard at that for twenty years, retired, am back in school full time finishing my masters!

I wasn't "entitled" to go to college. I worked hard for it! This is life. There are no "entitlements." While I wasn't in rags, I was very poor - the day I graduated from high school I didn't have a penny to my name. I simply set my sights on a goal and went after it with every fiber in my being.

So, ok - there is a universal "entitlement." If I want something, I'm "entitlted" to bust my britches figuring out the best way to obtain it then making it happen. I'm also "entitled" to my opinion as to how best to go about doing that.

It crushes me to think that many children are dying or without adequate resources that sustain a healthy life.

Many organizations exist which can help make the difference in a child's life. I've been sponsoring one or two children through Compassion International since 1994. Their approach is simple: Given the kids one solid meal (lunch) a day, keep the kids in school, and help supply the schools with what they need to give the kids a superior education.

Kids don't need much to learn. They certainly don't need the billions educators keep demanding. I simply write out math problems on the back of scrap paper and teach my son how to do them. He's in fourth grade, but mathwise, he tests at the seventh grade level.

I did buy a set of Golden Books Step Ahead workbooks to ensure I'm covering all the bases with respect to his ancilliary math education.

Now if I can just get him to turn in his assignments on time! (He spends 85% of his time with his mother).

 

[Elledan]

Evolution denotes change. Mutations keep occurring in the human genome, changing the gene pool and thus causing evolution. Though the fact remains that since we have KO'ed the usual natural selection there is no telling what this evolution will result in and whether it won't negatively affect humanity in general.

 

[xxChrisxx]

As for "poor work ethic," the world is full of rags to riches stories, whereby one or more people in an impoverished group said, "I've had enough!" and instead of relying on handouts, began scrambling up the levels.

He said global. There are those out there who don't have the means or ability to do this. The world is not the western world, and poverty isn't just being poor.

A good portion of sub saharan Africa has trouble feeding it's population, it's hard to consider bettering yourself and 'climing the ladder' if every day your main, and indeed only, goal is to stay alive.

That saying, these parts of Africa are rife with people who are massively greedy and would happily kill their own population to maintain power and wealth. Take Zimbabwe, used to be the breadbasket of Africa, now it's facing famine.

As a global community, if we really wanted to solve this problem, it requires that we remove the worst offenders to screwing up a country for their own needs. Which we can't do as it'll be called imperialism. Then injecting time and effort to build infrastructure and educate the people. Which won't happen as no other government/collection of govenments wants to fund it. Not just dole out handouts that allow them to go on living.

It also requires humas to cahnge their inherent xenophoic views. Even between countries that are allies, humans tend to have an us-and-them attitude. Until we start seeing ourselves as 'inhabitants of the earth', these problems will continue.

 

[edpell]

Impediments to mating are few and far between

This is wrong. To raise a family I need things like shelter, food, clothes for me and mine. These cost money. I do not see anybody willing to give me money so I must work. If I need to work only a small amount to get enough money to raise a large family then I would agree with "impediments to mating are few and far between". But I find I must work long and hard to raise just a small family. Where are you getting your money from?

 

[edpell]

Today there are 1000 times more people being born per year so there are 1000 times more mutations produced per year. Some are neutral and do not matter. Some are harmful and big impediments to mating (i.e. lack of legs, lack of eyes, lack of working digestive system, etc.) and die off over several (or one) generations. Some are beneficial (i.e high energy level, good looks, high sex drive, etc.) and lead to more surviving descendants. Evolution goes on and in fact at a higher rate.

To say in the past a lot of people died before the age of 5 means if they died due to starvation than the evolutionary pressure would be for people who are small stature and have efficient digestive systems or people who horde and steal or better yet for people who have both traits.

 

[edpell]

It is said that high education levels for women leads to lower completed family size for women. This seem like an unfortunate evolutionary pressure. Smart women having few children and dumb women having many children. Does not evolution filter for smart women that have lots of children? It seems that education is a impediment to reproductive success that will need to be over comes by future mutations that will allow smart women to reproduce at a competitive (or higher) rate.

 

[lisab]

It is said that high education levels for women leads to lower completed family size for women. This seem like an unfortunate evolutionary pressure. Smart women having few children and dumb women having many children. Does not evolution filter for smart women that have lots of children? It seems that education is a impediment to reproductive success that will need to be over comes by future mutations that will allow smart women to reproduce at a competitive (or higher) rate.

The "job" of a gene is to reproduce. It doesn't care how smart the individual is who is carrying it.

You have a bias towards intellegence, which genes don't have.