Will the Human Race evolve and branch into two different species?

[Imploded Tomato]

Will the Human Race evolve and branch into two different species or more during the next hundred thousand years due to genetic modifications and terraforming nearby planets such as Mars or Jupiter's moon Europa? Or will the process of Human evolution take hundreds of millions of years of natural selection to evolve. Or will the Human species stop evolving and simply devolve due to gross evolutionary pressure?

 

[Faye Valentine]

Uh, how could we know? o.ó

 

[Zizzy47]

I would say so, but only one of those species will be evolved. The other will be what the majority is now, mindless slaves.

 

[??????]

Who says this has not already happened ?

Superior beings obviously have superior means of concealment

 

[Diretooth]

It's possible, if humans were to breed in such a way that specific traits became the basis of species identity.

 

[The Prince of Sarcasm]

NO. There has never been any solid evidence of an animal/human evoling above or adding to their genetic code. This would be a necesary qualification to produce another species. Otherwise we will only change within our genetic code while losing parts of it as we reproduce, producing what we have today, Humans that are different because of the changes limited by their genetic code. Humans will always be able to change within their genetic code(change hair color, eye color, height ect. between each person), but not add on to it(Evovle into having another eye or something like that). Maybe i over thought this?

 

[Imploded Tomato]

If you look at the history of humanity, humans are descendants of apes. This is a known scientific fact. So, in theory; it should be possible to evolve into a separate species within long periods of time due to natural selection and variation in climate. For example, people with blue eyes have a gene mutation which now exists in modern Humans because of natural selection. This is my opinion, and I am curious to hear opinions from within the forum community.

 

[captainproton]

Mathematically, it's possible. But in the same way it's mathematically possible for someone to mix a bunch of carbon, hydrogen and other elements in a blender and pour out a rabbit.

Hollywood has a lot to answer for when it comes to people's understanding of mutation and evolution. For one thing, a couple thousands years would not be enough of a window or any kind of divergent evolution. After all, humanity is essentially the same now as it was 2000 years ago. There are a few differences which stem from better healthcare and nutrition, but we're still biologically the same. In fact, our global society pretty much ensures humanity stays genetically united.

If any kind of divergent evolution were to happen, you would need groups of people isolated for thousands of generations (not just thousands of years) in drastically different environmental conditions, in which those lacking particular physiological traits would die off without producing offspring.

What's much more likely is humanity as a whole changing into something slightly different in a couple of million years.

 

[The Prince of Sarcasm]

If you look at the history of humanity, humans are descendants of apes. This is a known scientific fact. So, in theory; it should be possible to evolve into a separate species within long periods of time due to natural selection and variation in climate. For example, people with blue eyes have a gene mutation which now exists in modern Humans because of natural selection. This is my opinion, and I am curious to hear opinions form within the forum community.

I would disagree. I am a creationist, and i believe in microevolution, not macroebolution. Most people don't know the difference. There is lots of evidence for microevolution, but not much for macroevolution. Darwin actually observed(kind of) microevolution and the helped him come up with his theroy. Back then there was no difference between mavro and micro evolution. Evidence for micro evolution is often used for ec\vidence for macroevolution. You should listen to the debate between Ken Ham, and Bill Nye.

 

[Solo]

H.G. Wells certainly thought so. Great book...
 
(Morlocks and Eloi and all)

 

[SoulPour777]

If you look at the history of humanity, humans are descendants of apes. This is a known scientific fact. So, in theory; it should be possible to evolve into a separate species within long periods of time due to natural selection and variation in climate. For example, people with blue eyes have a gene mutation which now exists in modern Humans because of natural selection. This is my opinion, and I am curious to hear opinions form within the forum community.

Nope. If you accept that you're an ape though, sure. Descendants of apes? NEVER.

As for your question, NO.

 

[Shaz]

If you look at the history of humanity, humans are descendants of apes. This is a known scientific fact.

No it isn't. It's a theory that has never been proven.


YOU may have descended from apes. I sure didn't

 

[Zane]

No it isn't. It's a theory that has never been proven.

YOU may have descended from apes. I sure didn't

Did you descend from a squirrel? lol

 

[Shaz]

You can't prove it

 

[Zane]

You can't prove it

I know I was trying to pull a funny. I'll be somewhere else now with my failure. haha

 

[Shaz]

I know you were. Hence the

 

[Probotector 200X]

C'mon, humans evolved from little tiktaalik things or whatever, right? What'll they evolve into next? (ha ha, I know, that sentence doesn't make sense)

Anyway, as for branching evolution? Well, I believe in the distant future, humans will terraform and colonize other planets, and not just in our solar system. Some people will go from planet to planet, but ultimately, most people will never leave their home planets. Now, if that goes on for a looooong time...well, humans on one planet will probably evolve differently than humans on another planet. Yes, this is very relevant.

 

[Scythuz]

C'mon, humans evolved from little tiktaalik things or whatever, right? What'll they evolve into next? (ha ha, I know, that sentence doesn't make sense)

Anyway, as for branching evolution? Well, I believe in the distant future, humans will terraform and colonize other planets, and not just in our solar system. Some people will go from planet to planet, but ultimately, most people will never leave their home planets. Now, if that goes on for a looooong time...well, humans on one planet will probably evolve differently than humans on another planet. Yes, this is very relevant.

Didn't you just describe the synopsis for Gundam? xD

 

[Ultim]

WHAT THE HECK ?! I won't accept being an effing ape.NEVER.

 

[Dalph]

I read an interesting article time ago, there were a few researches about how the human beings will be in future:

- taller, due to advances in medicine and science

- with a shorter intestine to absorb less fat and less sugar and avoid obesity

- with longer arms and fingers, to reduce efforts to a minimum

- with smaller brains, because who really will use them? there will be supercomputers that will do all the work for us

- with larger eyes and smaller mouths, because communication will be based primarily on facial expressions and eye movement

- with fewer teeth, because we will only eat pills and so we won't need them (...)

Obviously this is a silly joke. XDDD

Let's be honest now.

The real question here is...do you really think that humanity will last for other 100.000 years?

Stephen Hawking said that we won't even last for 1000 years, our planet is too fragile and will be out of resources soon, our only hope will be space colonization.