Comments on: Human evolution on the upswing http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/ Politics, Philosophy, Religion... and their collisions with the real world. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:38:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ben Abbott http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-161648 Ben Abbott Tue, 08 Jan 2008 14:22:35 +0000 http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-161648 Maiden, The term "human" refers to *one* population genetically compatible organisms. Evolution produces a diversity of genetically incompatible populations of organisms. Thus, I don't see how "human" + "evolution" is an appropriate combination. When our genetic pool actually diverges into another, it won't be correct to qualify both pools as "human". Hence, my qualification of "oxymoron", a subtle point, but I think a valid one. Regarding the "speeding up" part. I'm certain the process isn't speeding up. Rather the product of that linear process is expanding at an increasing rate. This is my biggest beef with the article. It will infer in many minds that we, as a species, are accelerating toward some end or destiny :-( Maiden,

The term “human” refers to *one* population genetically compatible organisms. Evolution produces a diversity of genetically incompatible populations of organisms.

Thus, I don’t see how “human” + “evolution” is an appropriate combination.

When our genetic pool actually diverges into another, it won’t be correct to qualify both pools as “human”.

Hence, my qualification of “oxymoron”, a subtle point, but I think a valid one.

Regarding the “speeding up” part. I’m certain the process isn’t speeding up. Rather the product of that linear process is expanding at an increasing rate. This is my biggest beef with the article. It will infer in many minds that we, as a species, are accelerating toward some end or destiny :-(

]]> By: themaiden http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-160026 themaiden Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:05:41 +0000 http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-160026 Ben, I honestly have no idea why you think that human evolution is a contradiction. It is no more contradictory than any other kind of evolution. Second, why do you say "if a gene pool is expanding..."? What I quoted quite clearly says "speeding up" and "evolve much faster". Third, evolution is a the change in the frequencies of various variations :) in a population. If all variations survive, it is still evolution. Ben,

I honestly have no idea why you think that human evolution is a contradiction. It is no more contradictory than any other kind of evolution.

Second, why do you say “if a gene pool is expanding…”? What I quoted quite clearly says “speeding up” and “evolve much faster”.

Third, evolution is a the change in the frequencies of various variations :) in a population. If all variations survive, it is still evolution.

]]> By: Ben Abbott http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-160010 Ben Abbott Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:41:27 +0000 http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-160010 Total BS to me. "Human evolution" is a contradiction in itself. If a gene pool is expanding, that doesn't mean its evolving, but rather than all variations are surviving. Total BS to me.

“Human evolution” is a contradiction in itself.

If a gene pool is expanding, that doesn’t mean its evolving, but rather than all variations are surviving.

]]> By: DeeJay http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-159831 DeeJay Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:28:05 +0000 http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-159831 maybe that's why as we get older time seems to pass quicker lol maybe that’s why as we get older time seems to pass quicker lol

]]> By: ohwilleke http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-158760 ohwilleke Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:51:23 +0000 http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-158760 "Our population explosion and rapidly changing lifestyles seem to be the drivers of this acceleration, the discovery of which contradicts the widely held notion that our technological and medical advances have removed most of the selection pressures acting upon us." When the United States was founded a mere 232 years ago, the life expectency of an American was about 40 years, that of the most direly afflicted third world countries today. Disease was a major factor catastrophically influencing Native American populations in the early days of colonization, and the advent of modern medicine wasn't a major impact until the late 1800s, about five generations ago. Much of the world has seen the impact of modern technology and medical advances much later than the U.S. and Europe, or hasn't seen them at all in an evolutionarily significant way. Of course, you can still have gene pool changes without actually requiring anyone to "not survive". Indeed, having kids earlier is as powerful a force as having more kids from a population genetics perspective. “Our population explosion and rapidly changing lifestyles seem to be the drivers of this acceleration, the discovery of which contradicts the widely held notion that our technological and medical advances have removed most of the selection pressures acting upon us.”

When the United States was founded a mere 232 years ago, the life expectency of an American was about 40 years, that of the most direly afflicted third world countries today. Disease was a major factor catastrophically influencing Native American populations in the early days of colonization, and the advent of modern medicine wasn’t a major impact until the late 1800s, about five generations ago.

Much of the world has seen the impact of modern technology and medical advances much later than the U.S. and Europe, or hasn’t seen them at all in an evolutionarily significant way.

Of course, you can still have gene pool changes without actually requiring anyone to “not survive”. Indeed, having kids earlier is as powerful a force as having more kids from a population genetics perspective.

]]> By: themaiden http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-158703 themaiden Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:20:45 +0000 http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-158703 Oh... right, DJ. I forgot about that. Must be ID on the upswing. Oh… right, DJ. I forgot about that. Must be ID on the upswing.

]]> By: Friendly Neighborhood DJ http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-158685 Friendly Neighborhood DJ Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:00:22 +0000 http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-158685 You foolish fool--evolution isn't on the upswing, god is just intelligently designing better babies! Yes, even the Perfect Almighty needs some practice generations before he gets his formula down. OK, seriously, that is interesting stuff, and I can't help but wonder what this ever-speedier evolution is going to mean for future generations. You foolish fool–evolution isn’t on the upswing, god is just intelligently designing better babies! Yes, even the Perfect Almighty needs some practice generations before he gets his formula down.

OK, seriously, that is interesting stuff, and I can’t help but wonder what this ever-speedier evolution is going to mean for future generations.

]]> By: the chaplain http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-158675 the chaplain Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:22:01 +0000 http://www.hells-handmaiden.com/2007/12/31/human-evolution-on-the-upswing/#comment-158675 That is an interesting finding. Perhaps it won't be long before we're able to track evolution as it happens instead of reconstructing it after the fact. That is an interesting finding. Perhaps it won’t be long before we’re able to track evolution as it happens instead of reconstructing it after the fact.

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