Humanity’s Place in Evolution and Evolution’s Place in Humanity
Evolution and the Fate of Humanity
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Transcript of Evolution and the Fate of Humanity
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Evolution’s Connection to Fate of HumanityEvolution’s Connection to Fate of Humanity
Evolution is the correct explanation of Human Origins
Evolution also provides predictions re Humanity’s future
Evolution resembles Janus, the Roman God, who looked into both the past and future
Particularly, the effects of our propensity for uncontrolled population growth
Two behavioral changes added by the process that causes evolution to occur.
Which increasing numbers are beginning to realize poses a serious threat to Humanity
Of particular interest, I will show that the this was caused by
Not everyone recognizes Population ProblemNot everyone recognizes Population Problem
“Escalating global demand for fuel, food and wood fibre will destroy the world's forests,… “
From a recent Internet Article
“Escalating global demand for fuel, food and wood fibre [due to rapidly expanding world population] will destroy the world's forests,… “
Something is missing
Population is “the elephant in the room”
ObjectivesObjectives
Explain why the EGP causes uncontrolled population growth
Review evolution generation process (EGP)
Discuss options
Examine a Short Term and Long Term population related problems
Two different sides of the same coin
Population Growth in last 10 K YearsPopulation Growth in last 10 K Years
Many have wondered why “Population Explosions” occur
The explanation is complex and only recently fully understandable.
The explanation requires an acceptance and understanding of evolution.
Species Survival – Reproduction – EGPSpecies Survival – Reproduction – EGP
Replacement implies reproduction
Re species survival requirements, simple fact:
Thus, individuals must replace themselves before dying or no Species Survival
All individuals have finite lives
Species Survival – Reproduction – EGPSpecies Survival – Reproduction – EGP
Thus reproduction is essential for Species Survival
Darwin also realized that reproduction, or more accurately reproductive variability, was part of the process which causes Evolution to occur
But Darwin did not understand how reproductive variability occurred
And solves problem of species survival
IF enough individuals reproduce
Hence, his explanation of Evolution was incomplete
Brief Review of ReproductionBrief Review of Reproduction
Thus, reproduction, in multi-celled species, like us, must begin with a single cell
The only animal that can reproduce directly, i.e., make a copy of itself, is a single celled animal
In multi-celled species, the single cell (aka zygote) is created by combining Male and Female sex cells (aka gametes)
Gametes are produced by Meiosis
Overview of Meiosis – first step is Mitosis Overview of Meiosis – first step is Mitosis
DNA unwinds into two strands, one for each daughter cell
DNA reassembles into the two daughter cells
Begin with basic cell.
+ and - imply possibility for mutation during reassembly
Each cell contains a pair of DNA molecules one from the Female, the other from Male
DNA FDNA M
DNA F-DNA M-
DNA F+DNA M+
Meiosis Continues with a Second Cell DivisionMeiosis Continues with a Second Cell Division
DNA does not unwind.
Daughter cell from Mitosis
One half of DNA pair goes to each “Gamete”
++ and +- indicate possibility for genetic mixing during DNA separation
DNA F+DNA M+
DNA M+-DNA F++
Putting it all togetherPutting it all together
Select one gamete at random from male
Cells fuse in Fertilization
CREATE GENETICALLY UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL
DNA F++ DNA M- -
DNA F++DNA M- -
Select one gamete at random from female
Reproductive variability origins:
Random selection of gametes
Mutations
Male and female gametes from different genomes
Genetic mixing
Result of Reproductive VariabilityResult of Reproductive Variability
Most human characteristics follow this pattern due to reproductive genetic variation
5 K race finish times, 2 – 3 minute finish time slice
Avg. ~ 31 min.
Result of Reproductive VariabilityResult of Reproductive Variability
Extremely controversial
Survivability VariabilitySurvivability Variability
Average = 68%
Above Average = 16%
Reproduction and Natural Selection RelationshipReproduction and Natural Selection Relationship
In general, selection is a filtering process
Evolution
Species Maintenance
Probably didn’t make it
Survivalof the fittest
Filter
Male Female
Gametes Gamete
Gametes and Gamete fuse to form Zygote
Offspringwith
varying survival ability
Reproductve Process
ZygoteEmbryogenesis
SameSurvivalAbility
DecreasedSurvivalAbility
Survival Improvement
ImprovedSurvivalAbility
Survivability loss
Species maintenance
Natural Selection
Reproduction and Natural Selection RelationshipReproduction and Natural Selection Relationship
Causes EVOLUTION to Occur
Steady improvement in survival ability
Iterating over millions of years one can predict
This is the PROCESS that
BUT, Conflict Between Individual and Species Survival BUT, Conflict Between Individual and Species Survival Requirements threatens SolutionRequirements threatens Solution
How do you get individual males and females to cooperate and reproduce?
X
SolutionSolution
Evolution Generating Process selected:
Females who are receptive only during times when offspring survival was maximum
E.g., Animals with short gestation periods mate in Spring
Males whose need for sex exceeds all other needs periodically
And the Result is:And the Result is:
Primitive Multi-celled animals: approx. 600 Mya Fish
Amphibians
Primates
Reptiles
Mammals
Man
Steady progression of improved survivability
Reptilian brain - most basic: sex, territory, violence
Limbic add to Reptilian brain – seat of emotions
Beginning Cortex added - reasoning
Final Cortex – improved reasoning,
Of Particular Importance: evolution of Triune Brain
We term this progression, evolution
Excessive Population Growth – One Final ProblemExcessive Population Growth – One Final Problem
Unfortunately, evolution’s behavioral selections worked too well
They led to the propensity for population growth to exceed available resources
BUT, evolution generating process cannot “deselect” these behavioral selections
E.g., reducing male sex drive would disable the solution to Species Survival
Excessive Population Growth – One Final ProblemExcessive Population Growth – One Final Problem
Only the human brain can fix the problem –
But this is complicated by conflicts in the Triune Brain
This is Evolution’s Fatal Flaw
Which cause difficulties with population control
Opposition to Reasonable ResolutionsOpposition to Reasonable ResolutionsStrong sex need can’t be eliminated.
Abstinence:
Contraception:
Thus, some practical method that precludes sexual activity from producing offspring is needed for population control:
Must contend with strong sex drive, not very effective
Avoid gamete generation
Probably best solution, but many strong forces opposed
Keep gametes separated
Opposition to Reasonable ResolutionsOpposition to Reasonable Resolutions
Strong sex need can’t be eliminated.
50 % of pregnancies unplanned
Abortion
If gametes combine
Option of last resort
Repugnant to many
Unnecessary if have good contraception program
But: there is some hopeBut: there is some hope
Oct-Nov 2009
Cortex dominates
Population is declining in some countries: e.g. France, Italy, Russia
Reasoning that too many children is an unnecessary burden
However, this leads to the Short Term Problem
The Short Term ProblemThe Short Term Problem
Many countries are concerned about declining populations
“European Pension Systems Set to Collapse/Low Fertility Blamed”
US Social Security reached crossover this year
Move The Cross-over pointMove The Cross-over point
Re Social Security, this means raising retirement age
Or could increase contributions by increasing level of compensation excluded from social security tax
But irrational and emotional Limbic may reject these
Le Problem, WSJ, May 18, 2010Le Problem, WSJ, May 18, 2010
“Workers and Retirees”
“All together in order to defend”
France and other European countries are trying to move cross-over point, but
“The salaries, pensions and public services”
The Long Term ProblemThe Long Term Problem
Reptilian/Limbic dominates
June 2009, Nat’l Geo
Overall Population is increasing
Africa and some areas in Asia
Are Increasing faster than declining countries
6.5 Bil to 9-10 Bil
Uncertainty re Earth’s carrying capacity
Much discussion re feeding the growing populations, but
Evolution and the Fate of HumanityEvolution and the Fate of Humanity
If we don’t control population, we will ultimately exhaust resources, after all, the Earth is humanities Petri Dish
Initial population control leads to support problems
BUT
Also population control must contend with opposition from our Reptilian and Limbic brains – supplied by the EGP
Evolution and the Fate of HumanityEvolution and the Fate of Humanity
However, the EGP also provided the Cortex which equips us with reasoning powers
Because of the EGP’s “gift,” humans are the first animal to realize consequences of over population
All other animals have undergone population increases and decreases
We can avoid fate of population increase and decrease – if we allow the Cortex to dominate
Evolution and the Fate of Humanity Evolution and the Fate of Humanity
On the other hand our population size will be controlled
Either consciously by us or by the “rules of the Petri Dish”
Options:
Education: the best choice, but tough
AAAS and similar organizations should do more
Could write a book
You Could Write a BookYou Could Write a Book
Evolution and the Fate of Humanity Evolution and the Fate of Humanity
Other Population Control Options:
Coercion – ala China
Let the Petri Dish decide
Evolution and the Fate of Humanity Evolution and the Fate of Humanity
Figure from “Limits of Growth” MIT study
Evolution and the Fate of Humanity Evolution and the Fate of Humanity
The choice is up to us
Fate of humanity rests
Which of the three brains will ultimately dominate?
not in our hands
but in our brains
It is our choice