Evolution and the Fate of Humanity

titletitle

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