Homo Sapiens Sapiens

[MrFun]

I was just wondering and thinking about this myself lately.

We know how humans have incredible power to change their environment, and ultimately, their planet. No other animal ever had that kind of power here on Earth, for better or worse.

But, what about our own evolution as Homo Sapiens Sapiens??

Are we still naturally evolving along nature's course, or have we gained so much autonomous power over nature, that we are no longer within the bounds of natural evolution?? In other words, have we created and entered a new course, such as accelerated artificial evolution??

With the progress of genetic research and bio-technology, it's plausible, isn't it?

Perhaps Homo Sapiens Sapiens will evolve into an entirely new descendant species thousands of years earlier than it would have occured in natural evolution. Perhaps Homo Sapiens Sapiens will evolve into a new descendant species that would not have otherwise developed through natural evolution.

Accelerated artificial evolution is something I thought of, unless I coincidentally took a term that has already been used before in similar discussions such as this.

Any ideas, comments, thoughts??

[faded glory]

The next step is Cyber-Humans. Half machine ; half man. Incredibly long life span. Organs and body parts replace bye Machine's that act like the persons own body.

Are we still naturally evolving along nature's course

Yes and the fact that the survival of the fittest rule is no longer applied today.

[General Ludd]

We'll die out soon enough.

[ranskaldan]

Human beings, at least those in rich nations (which applies basically to any apolytoner), aren't really subject to natural selection any more.

[SlowwHand]

You miss the obvious, amazingly. Homo Homo Sapiens.

[Transcend]

Humans have almost reached the "self-evolving" stage. The brain, however, will take us sometime to understand.

[Darsnan]

Originally posted by ranskaldan
Human beings, at least those in rich nations (which applies basically to any apolytoner), aren't really subject to natural selection any more.

As a member of a "rich nation", I have to disgree with the above statement completely. I am reminded every time that I go to the supermarket that evolution, or "survival of the fittest", or "best adapted to their environment", is still at work: where I, as a relatively tall person, can reach the fruits and vegetables even at the tops of the tallest shelves in the supermarket, people who did not receive the same genetic blessing do not have the same opportunity to the diversity of nutrition that is available to me. Also, because of this same trait, females, who are typically shorter than I am, often ask me for assistance in obtaining items on the top shelves, or that are too heavy/ bulky for them to move. This is of course a natural lead-in for romantic discussion, which gives me an advantage, or , dare I say, "Leg Up", in assuring genetic dispersion of my progeny!
Evolution is alive and well, and will continue apace, depending on the environment available to it!

D

[SlowwHand]

They put what they want bought at relative eye level.
Nothing to do with fittest.

[DinoDoc]

We are merely placeholders for the next stage of evolution: Homo Sapien Superior.

Wonders if anyone will get the obscure reference.

[Guynemer]

SMAC!

boo-yah!

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Guynemer
SMAC!

I wasn't aware that it was in SMAC as well. If you could provide me the quote in which it is mentioned, I would be most appreciative.

[The Mad Monk]

Dino, you mean the entire phrase or just the end?

Either way, it sounds like something any number of people may have said in X-Men (the comic book, not the good-but-not-quite-there movie).

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Dino, you mean the entire phrase or just the end?

Just the end. You got the correct answer either way.

[MrFun]

I cannot help but consider the possibility that bio-technology and genetic manipulation will allow Homo Sapiens Sapiens to leave behind natural evolution, and move into accelerated artificial evolution.

[Dis]

I think we are devolving.