Human evolution kicks into high gear

Message 16 of 274

The scientists have found an abundance of recent adaptive mutations etched in the human genome; even more shocking, these mutations seem to be piling up faster and ever faster, like an avalanche. Over the past 10,000 years, their data show, human evolution has occurred a hundred times more quickly than in any other period in our species’ history.

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posted by PresqueIsle

I'm skeptical that evolution has increased. I agree that there are more genetic mutations floating around, but you have to prove the adaptive value of each in order to claim evolution has occurred. The presence of that 20% threshold is based on an assumption that natural selection, not founder's effect, is the cause.

And the larger population causing an increase in evolution claim ignores the chicken and egg issue of 'did what caused the larger population mute natural selection in order to get the larger population?'.

There will be a lot of interesting work on this topic in the future. But it will take a long time to work through all the details and the ramifications of this hypothesis.