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Human Evolution Has Sped Up Faster than Ever!



Scientists have discovered that not only are humans still evolving, they’re actually doing so at a much higher rate than ever!

In the past 5,000 years, genetic change has occurred at a rate roughly 100 times higher than any other period, say scientists in the US.

This is in contrast with the widely-held belief that recent human evolution has halted. [...]

Professor Henry Harpending, an author of the study from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, US, said: "The dogma has been these [differences] are cultural fluctuations, but almost any temperament trait you look at is under strong genetic influences.

"Genes are evolving fast in Europe, Asia and Africa, but almost all of these are unique to their continent of origin," he added. "We are getting less alike, not merging into a single, mixed humanity."

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Posted on December 15, 2007 at 1:42 am by Alex
Category: Science & Tech



6 comments to "Human Evolution Has Sped Up Faster than Ever!"

  • Disappointed
    December 15th, 2007 at 10:46 am

    Are white people the endpoint of human physical evolution? The graphic you’ve used is itself a piece of racist fantasy that reinforces Euro-types that they represent the preeminent expression of evolutionary fitness.

    This is claptrap.

    Concepts like temperment are inherently contested and have little explanatory value

    The claims made in the BBC piece generalized so far beyond whatever data they’ve mustered that at best it’s a excursion of psuedo-science. But I’d wager that it’s better understood as another piece of white racism passing for ignorance.

    These geneticists utilize a logic that’s not dissimilar from creationists. The zeal with which these folks dismiss the role culture plays is mind bongling.

  • Poola
    December 15th, 2007 at 1:35 pm

    Hey maybe human obesity is then just another step of evolution!

  • Edward
    December 15th, 2007 at 2:13 pm

    Let me summarize and second Disappointed’s comments. The interpretation is bullshit.

    As for the study itself, extrodanary claims require extrodanry proof. This falls far short.

  • Johnald_Chaffinch
    December 15th, 2007 at 7:30 pm

    *extraordinary

    this is sensationalism on just one study.
    the author also was partly responsible for this other study - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashkenazi_Intelligence

    there’s nothing different from what you’d expect, there are inherited genetic differences over time, and that’s it.

  • Chris
    December 16th, 2007 at 4:24 am

    or maybe the rate at which we release chemicals in nature is increasing gemetical modifications?…..

    I’m not saying for the study, but for the picture, I saw it when I was a naive [white] kid and did not understand more then evolution. I think I would have expected to find a Asian guy in the same picture in Japan for example… Saying it’s racist would be the same that saying it’s sexist because it’s picturing a man and not a woman.

  • Lea
    December 16th, 2007 at 11:44 am

    sexist too

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