BBC Focus Magazine

[IQN870]

If Darwin was right and our environment affects our evolution, could humans physically change to cope with inreases in say Earths temperature or rising sea levels or higher doses of UV rays?

What changes do you think could be observed in say 5 million years from now?

[M Paul Lloyd]

Possibly, although I would suspect that this would not be without some help at the genetic level.

Its a controversial subject but I always thought it would be a good idea to enhance our genetic make-up in such a way that it would make space travel less hazardous.

You know better resistance to vacuum, radiation, heat/cold and dehydration, possibly with a degree of cellular regeneration thrown in to allow us to live centuries rather than just decades.

[conduit]

Yeah, 5 million years is a long time. By then we could easily be affecting our own evolution.

[Colm]

I'm not too sure... You see it would only happen if UV rays reduced the chance of you having kids... But medical science has really mixed things up as far as evolution is concerned, and surely skin cancer or other skin disease will be nothing within the next 1000 or so years, never mind 5 million. I don't think humans can really "evolve" any further in the Darwinian sense.

[M Paul Lloyd]

It's worth noting that in five million years time the Earth's orbit will have increased in size which will have effectively moved us further away from the sun, although the sun will by then be slightly hotter, so it rather cancels out in the end. Either way it is my sincere hope that by such a time we will have left Earth and headed off to the stars.

What I'm trying to work out though is where all this presumed 'increase in the Earth's temperature or rising sea levels or higher doses of UV rays' is going to be coming from and which we apparently need to evolve a resistance too?

You see I am not actually aware that global temperatures are going up, indeed for the last ten years at least they have been consistently falling, I also know of no evidence to support the idea that sea levels are or ever will rise by an appreciable amount nor have I heard anything to suggest that UV levels are on the increase

Anyone care to elaborate on these points?

[The Atheist]

In my opinion In 5 million years time (and depending if we havent wiped ourselves out!) we will be far into space and will probably only have a small colony left on earth. I have no doubt our own genetic/cybernetic alterations will take command of the evolution of man as a species. Lives will be greatly extended maybe even imortality! I think i was born to early lol.

[Ant]

If we have left Earth and settled multiple planets in 5 million years time, would our evolution diverge, eventually creating different species on different planets?

[The Atheist]

In the not so distant future i feel we will genetically redesign humans to live in different environments, im sure that will no doubt be considered as new species of humans.

[M Paul Lloyd]

Have you read 'Dune' by any chance? I only ask because that is based around a universe which was populated by humans who's evolution diverged to such an extent that they came to resemble very diverse alien races indeed.

[Shadowwolf]

...only have a small colony left on earth.

Nonsense, Terra shall be the seat of the Imperium of Man!

Whilst long term habitation in an environment would lead to evolutionary pressures — hope that sounds right — on any species. We tend to aim at recreating earthlike environments and creating various meds and such to counter any difficulties. Everyone should be as likely as anyone else at passing on their genetic material so no one strain should be more successful.

[nemisis39]

5 million years is a long time even on the evolutionary scale, indeed i would imagine that we will have moved to the stars and have numerous colonies all over the nearest star systems, and would also hope that we have found and interacted with other alien races (of which i have no doubt ( as i have stated before only man's arrogance or ignorance would assume that we are the only living life forms in the galaxy)) that are out there. We could have even interbred with them hybrid humans .

As for GM humans created for space travel could be a way forward but could also open up a whole new sub species of human. What guide lines would be incorporated with in there make-up more intelligent, stronger, robust , longer life span, we could end up obsolete as a true human and end up being replaced by our own inventiveness

[The Atheist]

From the dawn of man our evolution has been decided by our own inventiveness it’s what makes us human!! The next step is to modify our genes and start the snowball

[The Atheist]

ps i have never read or seen dune!!

[M Paul Lloyd]

ps i have never read or seen dune!!

Give it a go, you may enjoy it.

[Shadowwolf]

Try the Dune miniseries that was made in the last few years, not bad.

At the risk of being lynched, I would avoid the absolutely dire film that starred Sting — acting is not his best skill — it was two hours or so of my life I shall never see returned . As for the book, in brief I found it plodding and gave up; that might just be me though.

[The Jules]

I don't think we'll escape evolution, even if we try.

If (and it's a big 'if') we survive long enough, I would've thought that, not only would we adjust ourselves genetically, but we would be subject to unavoidable pressures from social selection, environmental differences and plain fashion.

Whatever, if we're still just one species by then I would be very surprised!

P.s. - I enjoyed all the Dune formulations, especially the miniseries, but the books are good as well. Good holiday reading.

[The Atheist]

Nonsense, Terra shall be the seat of the Imperium of Man! .

in 5 million years the sun will be well on its way so i think a small colony left on earth is valid!!

[M Paul Lloyd]

Ah but! through the finance of galactic taxation and the deliberation of the enslaved ones the sun will be reignited and the imperious Earth restored to its rightful orbit ..


Thus is the teaching of the mega-lord chronicles.

[The Beige Avenger]

in 5 million years we won't need the Sun!

5 million years!!! Think of what "we" have done in a couple of thousand.

As for humans on different planets evolving differently, it's pretty much a certainty. I mean, just look at the differences between different ethnicities.... now add in a totally different ecosystem, gravity, ambient temperatures and sunlight... yup, many differences will emerge.

We're going to become fat, lazy people wot use robots to live their lives.. like that Bruce Willis movie coming out soon.

[nemisis39]

Ah but! through the finance of galactic taxation and the deliberation of the enslaved ones the sun will be reignited and the imperious Earth restored to its rightful orbit ...

A bit like the movie Sunshine then (actually probably nothing like the movie sunshine because it was utter twaddle (that’s a critic's terminology )). I like the mega lord chronicles idea though hmmm seems like a plan to me

but we would be subject to unavoidable pressures from social selection, environmental differences and plain fashion.

sounds just like the 80's to me