• Question: How will mankind evolve given changes in technology and climate?

    Asked by lgs11wannh to Derek, Elaine, Heather, Keith, Bimpe on 17 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Heather Eyre

      Heather Eyre answered on 17 Jun 2013:

      Really great question, and really hard to answer.

      We could be heading for a ‘Wall-E’ like world, but that might be a bit extreme as I don’t think medical advances could keep up with the damage that lifestyle would do to our bodies.

      It’s all about the changes in selection pressure – and I’m not sure what these are for mankind. Running away from predators doesn’t happen very often anymore!

      Climate:
      Changes in climate are more subtle and it probably won’t be about whether we can physically survive. I’d be more worried about crop plants and food shortages. So the food and green technologies will become really important

      Technology:
      Improved transport is definitely mixing the gene pool up – I wonder whether some of the more recessive and extreme traits may become less common.

      I can’t see interacting with a mobile phone as being a factor, but if it was then maybe an extra thumb?

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