Human Evolution Speeding Up

[Chutney Daftcraft]

Researchers: Human evolution speeding up

By Steve Sternberg (http://www.usatoday.com/community/tags/reporter.aspx?id=594), USA TODAY

By tracking the footprints of evolution along the human genome, a team of researchers on Monday reported for the first time that the pace of evolution is quickening with the passing generations.

The findings represent the latest in a series of landmark efforts to use the human genome, which was decoded in 2003, to understand human biology and unravel the mysteries of evolution.

The findings support the notion that the planet's exploding population is a living laboratory for genetic trial and error, researchers say. By tracking the changes over time, the researchers found clear evidence that we're not who we used to be.

READ MORE HERE (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/discoveries/2007-12-10-evolution-speeding-up_N.htm)

[grafxgirl]

This is interesting because last night I was watching, on the Discovery Health Channel, that more and more children have a physic ability to communicate telepathically between people, with spirits, or a sixth sense in predicting events. Scientists seem to think that it is something that will evolve even more over time.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

Hmm. In the article, it references adaptation as an accellerant of evolution.

I wonder, are "bible thumpers" evolving as fast as we are?

[JiveTurkey]

I wonder, are "bible thumpers" evolving as fast as we are?

No, absolutely not. In fact, we are getting stupitter every day.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

LOL! I never even thought of devolving. That's interesting.

I was wondering if they get an exemption from evolutionary process because they choose to not believe it.

[JiveTurkey]

LOL! I never even thought of devolving. That's interesting.

I was wondering if they get an exemption from evolutionary process because they choose to not believe it.

You have no idea how liberating it is, when you are indeed "devolving", while everyone else around you gets one step closer to knowing absolutely everything, just because they can post a link to an article on the internet. :rolleyes:

[angel]

Time certanly hasn't done much to evolve us away from still being the murderous destructive animals that we are.

[Jenniffer]

No, absolutely not. In fact, we are getting stupitter every day.

You consider yourself a Bible-thumper? Because I never thought of you as one.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

You have no idea how liberating it is, when you are indeed "devolving", while everyone else around you gets one step closer to knowing absolutely everything, just because they can post a link to an article on the internet. :rolleyes:

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[JiveTurkey]

You consider yourself a Bible-thumper? Because I never thought of you as one.

Kinda puts a different spin on the subject when you attach a real person to a label, though. Doesn't it? :p

Neuron pathways (or neurotic pathways, depends on who you are) are always somewhat mutable, I think.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

So, you decided to own that label? So if I say it, I'm addressing *you*?

Interesting.

[JiveTurkey]

Is the label "Bible Thumper" degrading at all?

There are labels that many of us choose to "own". Think about what happens when somebody degrades the things that you believe in.

And yes, I do realize that I am outnumbered here.

[Jenniffer]

Is the label "Bible Thumper" degrading at all?

There are labels that many of us choose to "own". Think about what happens when somebody degrades the things that you believe in.

And yes, I do realize that I am outnumbered here.

I understand how you feel. It's probably the same way I used to feel every time "liberals" were discussed here. I decided a long while back that even though I identify with many liberal opinions, when folks here are talking about liberals, they're definitely not talking about me. In fact, going by the things they identify with liberals, they're not talking about any liberal I've ever met or even heard of :)

[Nanuk]

And yes, I do realize that I am outnumbered here.

But you're not alone.

[JiveTurkey]

I understand how you feel. It's probably the same way I used to feel every time "liberals" were discussed here. I decided a long while back that even though I identify with many liberal opinions, when folks here are talking about liberals, they're definitely not talking about me. In fact, going by the things they identify with liberals, they're not talking about any liberal I've ever met or even heard of :)
Which is exactly why I don't use that word on S&B. I lie in wait, until I get y'all in my house. ;)

[derricksonb]

Is the label "Bible Thumper" degrading at all?

Only in the context that there are alot of people who lump ALL conservatives into the "Bible thumping Jesus Freak" category. Conversely there are those who categorize all liberals as America hating Al Qaeda potheads... Both are actually far from the truth.

Sorrrry... Let me get back on track. I wasn't able to read the article but the faster evolution makes sense if you think about the massive amount of information that we are asked to process per second vs. 100, 200, 500, 1000, 1 MILLION years ago. It's only logical that as we tap into unused percentages of brain power that we unlock a few special talents like telekinesis, telepathy and other sixth senses. On the otherhand I wonder how we stack up physically to our ancestors.... As our minds continue to increase we have less and less need for strong physiques. Probably why most aliens are depicted with Huge heads and little bodies.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

Wow, Bryan, that was incredibly insightful!

I get a feeling that GG is gonna treat YOU like YOU dyed your hair red tonight...

[angel]

evolution speeding up:

[Chutney Daftcraft]

That's adorable. It's too bad that the current president still looks like the very first picture... :rotfl:

[angel]

.....................

[Chutney Daftcraft]

The kids have been learning about this president for *years*, and in fact, they just released a movie:

http://media.movieweb.com/dvd_art/full/14/107614.jpg

[Starbuck]

OH NO YOU DINT JUST INSULT CURIOUS GEORGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

And all monkeys for that matter!

[Chupula]

That's adorable. It's too bad that the current president still looks like the very first picture... :rotfl:

Too bad our current president *isn't* the one in the first picture... as the country would probably be in better shape with a chimp at the helm for the last eight years.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

Too bad our current president *isn't* the one in the first picture... as the country would probably be in better shape with a chimp at the helm for the last eight years.

Yeah! You say chimp, I say clown:

http://business.nmsu.edu/~dboje/enron/images/BushCorporateClown.jpg

[JiveTurkey]

Note the NRA patch...pardon my ignorance, but what has he done for the NRA?

[Chutney Daftcraft]

OH NO YOU DINT JUST INSULT CURIOUS GEORGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

And all monkeys for that matter!

Oh, did I just strike a nerve?

For the record, I did. And I'll do it again, upon request.

[Starbuck]

have no problem with the clown reference. That's funny. But monkeys...oh, that goes too far! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Chutney Daftcraft]

have no problem with the clown reference. That's funny. But monkeys...oh, that goes too far! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

OH! I struck your Jane Goodall nerve!

[Nanuk]

Note the NRA patch...pardon my ignorance, but what has he done for the NRA?


Nothing. But Liberal bedwetters hate and fear the NRA as much--or more--than they do this President.

And frankly that's my only reason for even giving him token support. The enemy of America's enemies is still technically my ally even though he's done very little that I approve of for some time now.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

The enemy of America's enemies

Even *you* have got to be tired of saying this washed up line. :rolleyes:

[Jenniffer]

Aren't those more like the stickers on race cars? As sponsors? As in money for the guy with the sticker on his car? As in the NRA endorsed Bush? Hmmm?

[JiveTurkey]

Aren't those more like the stickers on race cars? As sponsors? As in money for the guy with the sticker on his car? As in the NRA endorsed Bush? Hmmm?

Which might imply that he has done something for them. And I don't know what. Except maybe to maintain the 2nd amendment, which every president has done, to my knowledge. I understand the rest of the sponsors.

The patch says "I'm the NRA" which is on a hat they send you if you are a member. Or maybe you have to buy it. Anyway, I have seen that patch before, and it got my attention.

[Jenniffer]

Which might imply that he has done something for them.

Well, they did say that if Bush won, they'd have an office in the White House, or some such. I don't know what he did for them or whether he did anything for them, but they certainly seem to have had the impression that he was their buddy for some reason.

[JiveTurkey]

Well, they did say that if Bush won, they'd have an office in the White House, or some such. I don't know what he did for them or whether he did anything for them, but they certainly seem to have had the impression that he was their buddy for some reason.

I wonder if it's just the fact that he's a Republican, and that generally means pro gun. I was just wondering if there was something in particular.

There are worse people to be in bed with than the NRA. Besides, I don't really think they are a wealthy corporation or anything.

[Nanuk]

The NRA backed Bush for two reasons: One was his record of advancing the interest of gun owners while Governor of Texas, most notably by signing a "shall-issue" concealed carry bill similar to the one now in place here in WV.
The second reason was because his opponent, Albert Gore Jr., was avowedly anti-gun, just as Bill Clinton was. (Sorry Jive Turkey, but President Clinton did a fair bit of harm to gun owners by signing gun bans sent to him by the Democrats (a stunt which cost the Dems control of both the House and the Senate two years into Clinton's first term) and by issuing orders to executive agencies to stop allowing imports of firearms, parts, ammunition, etc. Bill Clinton worked against the NRA and America's shooting community for eight years and Albert Gore Jr. promised more of the same, which is why he's not President today. (He lost the electoral votes of both West Virginia and his home state of Tennessee in large part due to the gun issue per electoral researchers and either one of them would have given him enough votes to win in 2000.)

But since Bush has been President, neither he nor the GOP majority when they were in charge did anything to undo the damage that the Dems caused to gun owners. No repeals of bans, no relaxing import restrictions, nothing. The only thing that he has done was act as a check to the Dems in Congress by promising a veto of anti-gun legislation, but since they haven't passed any, he never had the chance to put up.

Of course, elect Hillary, Edwards, Obama or any of the other leftists save Bill Richardson and just watch the Dems start passing wave after wave of anti-gun legislation. Gun ownership is an issue that crosses party lines and the gun owners of this country have a few friends in the Democrat party but unfortunately none are in leadership positions in Congress or in the running for the White House.

[Jenniffer]

This (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/176903_rickergun09.html) was an interesting (tangential) read on Bush and the NRA.

[Nanuk]

This (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/176903_rickergun09.html) was an interesting (tangential) read on Bush and the NRA.


Robert Ricker is king of the bedwetters, and his anti-NRA propaganda aside, he still conveys the message that the NRA does represent 4 million gun owners who tend to vote more often than not and that the NRA always has and always will have a lot of sway with both political parties, particularly in swing districts, because it's members vote and support or oppose candidates based on the group's recommendation.

Also, the liability protection for gun manufacturers was subsequently passed and the assault weapons ban did expire and it expired without any increase in crime attributable to the listed guns.

But his one point was well-founded: Bush did promise to sign a renewal of the ban on semi-automatic firearms if Congress sent him one and that did hurt him and the GOP. Oh well. I'm not supporting anyone who tries to disarm me or any of my law-abiding friends and neighbors. Hell, I want legislators to pass laws that automatically imprison anyone convicted of using a gun in a crime for a decade and gives a five year mandatory hit to any convicted felon caught possessing a gun. But sadly none seem to have the backbone to suggest that.

[derricksonb]

I wasn't aware that W, Hill-Bill, Opr-ama, or Gore had anything to do with the evolutionary process..... Why does it always turn political unless you can somehow prove that one of these individuals is responsible for the opposible thumb??

[twisted buggy]

I must of got my wires crossed I thought this thread was about evolution,what happened?

[JiveTurkey]

Hey, wasn't this thread about evolution?

(thought the third time might be the charm).

Seriously, this thread kinda naturally progressed. Read it from the beginning.

First, there was fun poked at Christians, then Clinton, then Bush, then monkeys, then clowns, then the NRA, then bedwetters. There might have even been a little NASCAR joke in there. I don't think there was any one hijacker.

Let's just say the thread "evolved". Or did it "devolve"?

[shadowplay]

What I found most interesting about the article was that most of the modern of these hyper-evolutionary traits are also some of the most successful. The light skinned, blue eyed, lactose tolerant mutants have arguably in a geologic instant taken over the world, from humans on down. It's like evolution has had to speed up to keep up with human related changes.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

You know, I think body hair is being phased out by evolution. Particularly chest hair. After all, we have clothing now to cover our flesh with. More and more guys have hairless chests. Granted some shave it, but not that many.

I have chest hair.

Great. I'm a monkey. :o Excuse me, while I go apply my deodorant without switching hands... OOOH OOOH OOOH OOOH, AHHH AHHH AHHH.

[grafxgirl]

The light skinned, blue eyed, lactose tolerant mutants have arguably in a geologic instant taken over the world, from humans on down.

Hey!! You just described both my children and myself!!!;)

Actually, Bryan and I've wondered why the blonde hair, blue eyes and fair skin was dominant in both our kids, although Taylor's is getting darker as she gets older. I have blondish (not now that I dyed it red) hair, blue eyes and fair skin. Bryan has greenish-brown eyes, dark hair and dark skin. I thought that his traits were considered dominant and that our children would have those same traits. The blue eyes must be dominant in my family because on both my mother's and father's sides every person, starting with my grandparents generation has blue eyes except for my grandmother (my dad's mom), she has brown. I learned this back in college for a project I had to do for one of my classes.

[grafxgirl]

Oh yeah...did I mention the three of us are lactose intolerant?

[derricksonb]

Oh yeah...did I mention the three of us are lactose intolerant?

I suppose this means I'm the only one in the house yet to "evolve"...... 'scuze me while I retreat to my cave and cheer on MY President with the rest of my dark haired, beer swilling, Cigar smoking, baby seal clubbing, milk drinking, neanderthal Republican friends....

[Chutney Daftcraft]

you forgot "hairy-backed"...

[Nanuk]

So if humans evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

[KatherineA]

For the same reason that there are still brown-eyed men with too much hair and a beer-swilling attitude.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

So if humans evolved from apes, why are there still apes?

Because the genetics split, and one group became erect (human-bound) and the other remained as they were.

[Jenniffer]

Because the genetics split, and one group became erect (human-bound) and the other remained as they were.

Surely that wasn't a serious question. Please tell me that wasn't a serious question.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

Oh, he was serious. I pose this question:

Since there is gravel, why are there still rocks?

[shadowplay]

Surely that wasn't a serious question. Please tell me that wasn't a serious question.

Of course it was a serious question, just ask Mike.

BTW, the ability to drink cow's milk (lactose tolerance, not intolerance) is the advanced mutation so GG, not so cutting edge after all.

[grafxgirl]

I know, seems we still have some evolving left to do. Maybe the grandkids will be perfect.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

Yup, I have body hair and they can't process the milk of another animal.

Sweet! Hopefully our lack of evolution will *at least* get us Geico Commercial gigs. Everywhere I go, there's always something to remind me, of a special place in time...

Excuse me, but I need to go pick bugs off of my hair and eat them. When I'm done with that, I'm gonna chip a meaty chud into my hand, and throw it at the people walking by.

[Kensey]

Because the genetics split, and one group became erect (human-bound) and the other remained as they were.

Actually the other group evolved too, just in a different direction. Looking back linearly, human evolution looks like a steady progression toward upright gaits and huge brains, but in reality if you look at it from the other end there are constant splits in the genetic lineage and we just happen to be the group that ended up on the big-brained upright-gaited side of all of them. Many of the rest died out along the way, probably because our bigger-brained ancestors killed them off in wars or semi-cannibalistic hunting. In a few cases it appears the two lines may have bred back together -- I recently saw an article suggesting that Neanderthal man, long thought to have been killed off in wars with Cro-Magnon man, may actually have interbred to some extent with them, keeping part of the Neanderthal genetic legacy (and possibly social development) alive after they themselves died off.

There are very few animals today (humans included) that look much like their direct ancestors of millions of years ago. Most of the ones that do are either very specialized into a small ecological niche (e.g., various kinds of insects), or they're apex predators (sharks, crocs, etc.) for whom no further evolution has been necessary.

[Chutney Daftcraft]

We actually have our very own Cro-Magnon, right here on the board.