evolutionary progression

John Doe

So, if we came from apelike ancestors, what will we evolve into next, assuming we successfully avert extinction? Are we the apes of tomorrow today?

behemot

With the progress of genetic engineering, evolution is no longer - at least not only - darwinian. It's "cultural", man made.

Major species’ evolution was from species taking on new chromosomes. Chromosomes are digital information, so when a species takes on a new chromosome, it’s like adding a new DVD full of software to our PC - it instantly changes and improves the capabilities of what we can do. These days, man can do - and direct - such a process: biology has become a nanotechnology (chromosomes are digital information) and it can - and will - be digitally designed and reconstructed.

Of course there are ethical and practical concerns regarding the growing ability of man to interfere with nature (the accuse of "playing God") but there is also a very promising side to the possibility man has for the first time to creatively interfere with nature and not just passively put up with it.

Behemot

BurnTheShips

So, if we came from apelike ancestors, what will we evolve into next, assuming we successfully avert extinction? Are we the apes of tomorrow today ?

Biological evolution is obsolete. We have progressed to cultural evolution over the last several thousand years, and now there is technological evolution. Please see my thread here:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/members/politics/179610/1/Libertarian-Transhumanism

PSacramento

Mutants are the next step in the evolutionary chain !

Don't you guys watch the movies ???

John Doe

Mutants are the next step in the evolutionary chain !

But, evolution depends on mutations or variations.

The Almighty Homer

Micheal Jackson

BurnTheShips

But, evolution depends on mutations or variations.

At it's simplest, "evolution" basically means change. As such, it can be directed. We've been doing it for thousands of years as it is. That poodle was once a wolf.

BTS

beksbks

We better get the fur back, or stop the ozone hole.

Satanus

Hard to say. Maybe, well evolve powers of adaption for other planets, live in the sparce martian environment, breath methane on some of the moons in the solar system.

Anyways, in our present form, we still have a LOT of potential in becoming managers of this planet. We are only just starting to learn about the planet and the all the systems on it work. We have the potential to totally reengineer it, making it better than it was. At this moment, life on the planet is quite sparse. The air used to be filled w birds, the plains overrun by bison and their predators, the grand banks off the east coast filled w fish. We have the potnetial to bring about something similar. But, we have so much to learn, first.

S

Satanus

Sf writer, larry niven wrote an interesting story about this called 'the protector'. In it, we humans have another stage that we can metamorphose into. Super strong, super smart, armored bodies, not needing sleep, some humans morph into this mega warrior form to protect humanity from outside threats. The process is initiated by a special plamt root. See wiki for more - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protector_(novel) Great story, btw.

S

evolutionary progression

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