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AS, the next step in human evolution?

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TM
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26 May 2012, 2:46 pm

ruveyn wrote:
Kraichgauer wrote:
The Autism Spectrum, especially high functioning autism is a stable variation. Rather like sickle cell anemia. In a tropical place where malaria abounds the advantage of the condition offsets its mostly debilitating aspects by a little bit. So that genetic variation does not go away. A similar thing happens with high functioning autism. Which is why (I suspect) we the genetic "one percent" do not disappear. Enough HFs are attractive enough mates to keep our germ line in circulation.

ruveyn


If you think about every genetic variation in this way, meaning in context of survival many genetic variations make more sense. Some, homosexuality for instance ,seems a strange genetic trait to survive generation after generation.



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26 May 2012, 3:13 pm

edgewaters wrote:
snapcap wrote:
The next step in human evolution is the rich 1% shaking off the low life 99%.


Not likely ... wealth is conferred according to human institutions and social processes, and has little to do with biological fitness in a natural context. The poor, especially in the developing world, are under far more selective pressure. It is not difficult for the rich to survive long enough to reproduce, barring major disability they can all do so regardless of fitness. The poor - especially those in particularly difficult environments - need to be smart and strong to stand a chance at producing viable offspring and having them survive to adulthood. That enhanced selective pressure means they are evolving more rapidly (especially in failed states and lawless areas).

There has always been a top tier in every society, but periodically, they change. Likely because nepotistic practices, lacking meritocracy, lead to decadence and ossification, and inevitably to reduced capability.


Why assume the next step in human evolution is going to be biological?


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snapcap
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27 May 2012, 7:20 pm

You 1%ers can't fool me. You're already part borg, aren't you...

Or should I say part Dick Cheney?

:wink:


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Tiranasta
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27 May 2012, 7:24 pm

Nature doesn't 'decide' anything. It favors only what results in reproductive advantage. It can't 'foresee' distant not yet apparent advantages either.