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If evolution is real, then why isn’t it happening now? An anthropologist explains that humans actually are still evolving (theconversation.com)

submitted 7 months ago by otters_raft@lemmy.ca to c/biology@mander.xyz

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 0 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (3 children)

It is happening now.

Shit just happens very slowly.

Also: our technology and way of life is to the point where we are somewhat in control over our own evolution. "Survival of the fittest" is less of a concern for humans.

[–] Hudell@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

And modern medicine also slows it down further.

[–] MotoAsh@piefed.social 0 points 7 months ago

Nah that actually accelerates the genetic diversity. All the morons that would've died off or medical issues that would've been a death sentence now have a chance to go on and further... everything.

[–] Deceptichum@quokk.au 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It's like time travel.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

"What do you mean time travel isn't real? We are traveling through time literally all the time! We just can only go forward... Slowly."

[–] TexasDrunk@lemmy.world 0 points 7 months ago

Says you! I'm moving forward at a blistering 60 seconds per minute.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 0 points 7 months ago (1 children)

We've been figuring out that evolution can move fast, given pressure. I often point to African male elephants shortening or losing their tusks due to humans poaching the super tuskers.

I've heard several arguments that boil down to, "That's not evolution." But it is! The environment ramped up a selection pressure, the animals adjusted. Same as Atlantic fish (trout I think?) attaining maturity faster and smaller. We've been keeping the big ones for decades.

Take the "humans did that" out of the equation and imagine another factor, evolution still happened quickly.

tl;dr: Animals can evolve quite quickly, but such events are hard to observe they were rare and weird outside of human influence.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 0 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I feel like that's more evidence that humans have some control over evolution not just among ourselves, but other animals also. The elephants with smaller tusks are just able to keep breeding since they aren't being poached (or poached as much).

Dogs, cats, birds, even plants are all affected by human behaviour.