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Subject:
Re: Who says humans have stopped evolving?
From:
Martin Weiss <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informal Science Education Network <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:56:15 -0400
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Survival of the just fit enough. Evolution doesn't push for more than is
necessary for survival AND reproduction under any given environmental
conditions. Sure genes will mutate but in your hypothetical static
environment there would be "no" selection for the new traits necessary for
survival and reproduction and therefore no discernible evolution. I say
discernible because if there is no fossil record, or phenotypic or
behavioral etc etc changes. We would however be able to see genomic changes.
It is like lactose tolerance. The gene, produced by random mutation, was
selected for by a behavior;  milk drinking as children had an advantage
leading to survival and reproduction.. However, in cultures that were not
dairy herders the gene for lactase production certainly existed at some
very, very low level (random mutation demands that it did exist) but there
was no selection for it and it probably disappeared..

Martin

On Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 5:32 PM, Mike Slayton <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
>
> *****************************************************************************
>
> I don't know this, but even in a static environment, wouldn't the there
> still be a "survival of the fitness" thing going on?  That is, wouldn't
> nature favor the most successful traits and continue to evolve those traits?
>
> I'm presuming that would go on until everyone reached "angel" status.   And
> it may be, that as in the past, the definition of success and skills needed
> to be successful would change.  As a aside.....if for no other reason the
> definition of success  may change to address the all too human trait of
> trying to avoid boredom.
>
> Interesting pondering.
>
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-- 
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Martin Weiss, PhD
Science Interpretation, Consultant
New York Hall of Science

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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

Check out the latest case studies and reviews on ExhibitFiles at www.exhibitfiles.org.

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