Re: current path of human evolution

<pauldepstein@xxxxxxx> wrote
>
> Since a very large proportion of human pregnancies are unplanned, I
> would expect that the most predominant traits which are currently being
> selected for in future generations are those connected with an
> inability (perhaps economic) or unwillingness to use contraception
> correctly.
>
> According to this theory, the human species is probably rapidly
> becoming more and more risk-tolerant and impulsive since such traits
> would lead to a propensity to unsafe sex. Hence gambling could
> continue to grow very rapidly, and (if future generations continue to
> drive), roads may become more and more dangerous.
>
You'd have to show that there is a correlation between unplanned pregnancy
and unsafe driving / gambling (easy). Then you'd have to show that the
correlation is due to genetic factors and not confounding factors, such as
membership of a social class predicting all three. This is much harder.
Finally you've got to show that the human brain is wired up in such a way
that a mutation which increases unplanned pregancy but doesn't increase the
other risky behaviours is unlikely to arise. This is quite a challenge
>
> Has there been much professional speculation or research as to how the
> recent advent of contraception is likely to affect human evolution?
>
Plenty of speculation by professionals. However it isn't really what
evolutionary biologists do all day. Most scientists are not professionals by
the way. In Britain scientists are not recognised as a profession and there
is even a union to look after university lecturer's pay and conditions, like
automotive workers.



.

Loading