Human Genes Still Evolving

MediumFormat writes "The New York Times is running an article that discusses the continuing evolution of human genes. From the article: 'The genes that show this evolutionary change include some responsible for the senses of taste and smell, digestion, bone structure, skin color and brain function.' Darwin Awards aside, what made people think that evolution stopped with the modern era?"

First Post

[Anonymous Coward]

We'll it would have been if it wasn't for this damned webbing between my fingers.

Evolution and Jerry Springer

[Anonymous Coward]

Watching a Jerry Springer Show gave me these conclusions:
- the humane genes are still evolving
- they are evolving at a rapid rate
- they are evolving in the wrong direction

Oh yeah, and:
- it's not 'designed'
- it's certainly not 'intelligent'

We're Screwed!

[Anyd]

Just look at the average football player's chance to reproduce compared to the average /.er's chance...

I challenge everyone here to do their part in raising the IQ of humanity (go get yourself laid damnit!)

Re:Natural selection is not just survival.

[KarateExplosions]

I will.

Ugly people, stop having so many ugly kids! Please ensure that the adult ugly population and the child ugly population does not exceed a 1:1 ratio.

Re:You have a lot to learn.

[StrawberryFrog]

If you end Aparthied in South Africa you simply are creating a new form of Aparthied somewhere else.

Of course. I'd forgotten the law of conservation of Apartheid.

Re:VERY SLOW ...

[saider]

As Smithers noted to Mr Burns...

"Well, it's a policy that ensures a healthy mix of the rich and the ignorant, sir."

Re:Evolution can be "fast"

[The AtomicPunk]

Holy crap! They were missing four fingers and toes and some sick bastard amputated the ones they had?!

Obligatory Monty Python Quote

[cp.tar]

There are Jews in the world.
There are Buddhists.
There are Hindus and Mormons, and then
There are those that follow Mohammed, but
I've never been one of them.

I'm a Roman Catholic,
And have been since before I was born,
And the one thing they say about Catholics is:
They'll take you as soon as you're warm.
You don't have to be a six-footer.
You don't have to have a great brain.
You don't have to have any clothes on. You're
A Catholic the moment Dad came,

Because

Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is great.
If a sperm is wasted,
God gets quite irate.

Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is great.
If a sperm is wasted,
God gets quite irate.

Let the heathen spill theirs
On the dusty ground.
God shall make them pay for
Each sperm that can't be found.

Every sperm is wanted.
Every sperm is good.
Every sperm is needed
In your neighbourhood.

Hindu, Taoist, Mormon,
Spill theirs just anywhere,
But God loves those who treat their
Semen with more care.

Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is great.
If a sperm is wasted,
God gets quite irate.

Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is good.
Every sperm is needed
In your neighbourhood!

Every sperm is useful.
Every sperm is fine.
God needs everybody's.
Mine! And mine! And mine!

Let the Pagan spill theirs
O'er mountain, hill, and plain.
God shall strike them down for
Each sperm that's spilt in vain.

Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is good.
Every sperm is needed
In your neighbourhood.

Every sperm is sacred.
Every sperm is great.
If a sperm is wasted,
God gets quite iraaaaate!

Re:bleh, bone structure.

[Ihlosi]

There must have been some purpose for all this extra brain tissue. But whatever it is, we have not been using it.

Think of it as a hot spare. It helps keep the mental capacity above the level of a turnip even if you get drunk once or twice.

Re:Evolution can be "fast"

[kyouteki]

My father was slaughtered by a six-fingered man. He was a great swordmaker, my father. When the six-fingered man appeared and requested a special sword. My father took the job. He slaved a year before it was done. The six-fingered man returned and demanded it, but at one tenth his promised price, my father refused. Without a word, the six-fingered man slashed him through the heart. I loved my father. So naturally, I challenged his murderer to a duel. I failed. The six-fingered man left me alive, but he gave me these. I was eleven years old. And when I was strong enough, I dedicated my life to the study of fencing. So the next time we meet, I will not fail. I will go up to the six-fingered man and say, "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

Re:Original paper

[wtansill]

The question is whether our current evolution pattern is actually in our best interest, or if the dumb are outbreeding the smart (and on the side, are such things genetics based, or social).

Some people feel that "forward" evolution has stopped. It's messy to define "forward", and messier to figure out if it has stopped.

Well, if Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and various reality/game shows are any indication, I'd say we're going downhill fast...

Evolution Stopped Now? Ask Me How

[cmholm]

What made people think that evolution stopped with the modern era?

1) Because of a background assumption in most cultures that people were brought into being, without preamble, a few thousand years ago.

2) Within the Judeo/Christian/Islamic tradition, the widespread belief that the Lord will be wrapping things up, shortly, so that there won't be time for further/any evolutionary activity.

3) The popular conception that evolutionary change is always macroscopic and immediately apparent to the casual observer (ie. X-men).