How can we influence humanity to arrive at the next evolutionary stage of mankind?

The history of human evolution: how does it occur

 

Evolution is a process that takes place when species are believed to have adapted to their circumstances and improved upon their features from earlier generations and species. As stated in a theory developed by Charles Darwin, these adaptations take place because only the fittest organisms survive.

 

Survival of the fittest states that only the organism best suited to the environment are able to survive long enough to reproduce. After a period of time the slight changes made to some populations make these organisms differ too much from the original species. The 'new' species is able to thrive as a result of its new adaptations and survival of the fittest (natural selection) occurs, meaning only the adapted organisms survive long enough to reproduce and their adaptations are passed down through the generations. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to Dr Andy Herries, natural selection no longer applies to the human species. This is because with modern day technologies as human species we are more interconnected than ever before, with less isolation and predators (including illness and malnutrition) threatening our survival. This means that the need to adapt to an environment for survival no longer exists in the way that it used to.

 

Less populations are isolated and exposed to major differences, therefore there isn’t any need or chance for any populations to develop noticeable differences to others. Unless there are major changes in our environment and other circumstances as a result of global warming, exhaustion of resources etc. it is unlikely that any major evolutionary stages will occur as a result of natural selection and the survival of the fittest. 

 

Minor evolutionary changes – for example our species’ increasing height – still occur and will continue to do so, however these are broader variations and are less noticeable because we evolve as an entire species rather than just a particular population group.