Real-life Human Evolution?

[chrismurphy]

I went to see the new X-Men film the other day and I have been inspired to research (with a view to writing a novel) into evolutionary pressures at work within our World today and whether Homo Sapiens Sapiens are likely to become Homo Superior (or Homo Novis as some call it) some point soon-ish. Anyone know any good starting place to look at contemporary anthropologists, biologists etc, views on this? Especially with regard to developing ESP, possible Astral Projection, telekinesis, increased intelligence etc. Would be good to get non-Westernised views of this as well (eg. Australian Aborigines phenomenal spatial abilities and so on). Thanks!!!

[xyzzy@bok]

agree with TW; Lyall Watson. His book 'the nature of things' is good too. my belief is that mankind had these homo superior powers before we learned speech; the great undoing. and they won't be returning because we only want it and you gotta need.

[j2buttonsw]

If one is to believe Darwin, we require enviromental pressure to enforce evolutionary change. I can't help thinking that as we have made life so comparatively cushy for mankind there is little environmental pressure on us.

[Squirrel]

In agreement with j2buttonsw, I thought that evolution occurred at the fastest rate when only the strongest survive, and the weak genes are removed from the gene pool. For example, a family of blunt-toothed tigers would die out while a family of sharp-toothed ones lived to reproduce and thereby evolve the species. But with humans today, and I must stress that I mean absolutely no offence when I say this, the genes that usually cause a creature to be "selected against" are being kept in the gene pool; - for example, being small, blind or disabled in some way. This must have drastically slowed down the rate of evolution, mustn't?

As for the bit about magical powers and stuff, it would be nice if it was true, but so far there has been no verifiable proof that these things exist. Therefore they probably don't. I believe there is a �1 million prize if you can prove you're a magician: - who would keep quiet about their gift with an offer like that?

[Think Deep]

Squirrel, I'm with you on this one to a point. I thought about that we're allowing the 'weak' to survive & reproduce now. I again mean no offence by that, please realise that! Anyway, I'm now part way through reading 'Evolution Isn't what it Used to Be', by Walter Truett Anderson. Now I realise that evolution is continuing, but in different ways, with biotechnology being the driving force. Anyone have any views on whether that's going to be a good thing or not?

[DraiodoirX]

The thing is we are always evolving, for example "Increased Intelligence" Think about it this way, In GCSEs, A Levels, Degrees etc. there are boards in charge of these exams, who make the tests harder every year or so, believing them to be too easy as many people pass or do well on them, however it could be that we as a species are evolving with higher intellects, I'm not saying in forty years time our children will all be little Einsteins, what I'm saying is that our capacity for knowledge is slowly growing, as to your Australian Aborigines comment, I've read of people who because of the environment they live in they hearing is so acute they can literally hear a leaf drop this maybe purely environmental or it could be genetic, also there are people who get hunches, who can read people not psychics, read them as in tell what kind of person they are, I'm sure all of you at some point have done something which has made you think, like the old example knowing the phone will ring before it does or who it is before you answer, perhaps this is just dumb luck or latent genes beginning to activate in our species I'm not saying that well all become x-men style mutants, however were already mutants, all humans are mutants, we all have a mutant genes, not all are active, and they're not genes that allow people to have telekinesis they're genes that affect hair colour, eye colour, skin colour etc. I myself have a mutant gene which means my eyes are two colours both are brown around the pupil and green on the outer edge, I've traced this trait back to my great grandparents. In conclusion it's very possible that we are evolving or these are all environmental factors which can't explain all of these

[greenearth]

i guess it is possible. like DraiodoirX said the test each year are getting harder. i should know. also some of us may have already started "evolving". because the tests getting harder and the physical need for competition some of us may have gotten enlarges organ that produce muscles for super human strength like in x-men. also since tests are getting harder for childen under the age of ten thismay be enough environmental pressure for evolution. and since they are learning more their brain copacity(mind the spelling) may be increasing, and just maybe there may be two different subspecies of the homo sapiens. one with super human strength and one with super human intelligence and telekinesis. well it's just a thought. correct me if you disagree.