[Newsbot]

Title: Leading geneticist Steve Jones says human evolution is over
Category: Science
Posted By: Eisensapper
Date: 2008-10-07 19:41:53

[TheSoviet]

Well, that's a good way of covering your ass.

[djakeydd]

Newsbot Newsbot:

Title: Leading geneticist Steve Jones says human evolution is over
Category: Science
Posted By: Eisensapper
Date: 2008-10-07 19:41:53

How profound

[Public_Domain]

[Pseudonym]

Use VIAGRA!

[Public_Domain]

[Arctic_Menace]

With all due respect to this geneticist, I have to disagree.

We can't predict what changes nature will bring. Perhaps even society will change and our genetic patterns will change. Perhaps humanity will evolve further on other planets, where the environment will force us to adapt. Hell, perhaps even when transhumanism comes to pass, there will be an evolution in mankind. We jsut don't know, which is why I find it rather arrogant of his to say that humanity won't/can't evolve any further.

[robmik43]

To me the theory has a huge hole in it.
To begin with, in most societies, women of child-bearing age
do not routinely have mates who are 50 or more...it is an exception.

In societies where the norm has always been the total subjugation
of women..the Muslim world and sub-Saharan Africa...where old men
have sex with young women as a "right"....the result has been
the opposite of "evolution"...these people are stuck in an
800-year-old medieval time warp. They didn't evolve at all.

[Brenda]

Early in the days, men died before they were 40. As did women. Now, we make it till we are 70+. I don't really think the lack of "old" men making babies is a factor in evolution.

[Freakinoldguy]

Interesting to say the least.

Steve Jones, (born March 24, 1944) is a professor of genetics and head of the biology department at University College London.

I somehow thing Mr. Jones has turned into the proverbial dirty old man and wants to try and entice some nice young women into having sex with him, using this evolution theory as an excuse.

I wonder what he thought about 64 year old men boinking nubile young women when he was in his twenties?

You've gotta give him points for oringinality though. It sure beats the "what's your sign" line

[robmik43]

Mr_Canada Mr_Canada:

Nono, Cialas is so much better.
Gag.

Why do so many silly-assed young people find it abhorrent
that we older people can still have sex ?
Is it that repulsive a thought, or is it partly envy ?

What's wrong "Mr Canada"...has your hand been cheating on you ?

[Blue_Nose]

Arctic_Menace Arctic_Menace:

With all due respect to this geneticist, I have to disagree.

We can't predict what changes nature will bring. Perhaps even society will change and our genetic patterns will change. Perhaps humanity will evolve further on other planets, where the environment will force us to adapt. Hell, perhaps even when transhumanism comes to pass, there will be an evolution in mankind. We jsut don't know, which is why I find it rather arrogant of his to say that humanity won't/can't evolve any further.

The factors which decide who's having offspring aren't genetic anymore - people with deficiencies aren't necessarily dying, and people with genetic advantages aren't necessarily breeding. You can't have evolution without competition - otherwise it's just variation.

I'm certainly not saying that's a bad thing, but it's likely that genetic evolution won't play a huge role in our development - things like cultural evolution are so much more powerful in our species.

[Brenda]

What is old(er) anyway?

[Freakinoldguy]

Brenda Brenda:

What is old(er) anyway?

Like the Grecian formula ad says, don't trust anyone over ninety.

[Tokimini]

I think his basic premise is correct but his mechanism is wrong. Living things evolve primarily due to changes in their environment or increased competition from other species, not from mature gentlemen such as myself not getting laid. No other species on the planet can compete with us, and as for envirionmental pressures, if the environment doesn't suit us we either alter it or ourselves until we can function in it. If there is no pressure to evolve, there is no evolution.