Evolution in Humans From the Ancient Days - Article Example

? Human Evolution Evolution is a process that involves development or increase in the complexity of living things. In this case, the main focus is on such development in human beings. Evolution is indicated by the changes in the bodies of organisms over a long period of time. For example in enlargement of an organ, change of DNA, proteins or the whole species at large. Below are analyses of four articles on human evolution. According to HSU in the first article, human evaluation has greatly been shaped by the way human beings connect and relate to other animals. In this case, relating human evaluation with how humans connect to animals is a new idea altogether. This is because in most cases and with most scientists, human evolution is generally considered as a physical change. The author believes that most developments in the evolution of human beings are contributed by the care shown by humans towards other animals. For example, about 2.6 million years ago, when hunting was the main activity among humans, after hunters were attacked by tigers and lions, they developed weapons and advanced tools for defense. Connecting with other animals compel humans to learn more about them, as well as, having a better understanding of one self. This is because, caring for other animals humans is an ecological transition that no other living thing has made. In addition, by doing these, humans are in a position to learn what other living things do, where they are, their way of communication, as well as, the way they move. There are a number of development observed as a result of human connection with animals. The first one is development of symbols and language. The author indicates that human beings developed symbols to alert or warn their fellow humans upon a threat by either predators or dangerous animals. The second one is domestication of animals. Roughly 40,000 years ago, human being started rearing animals not only to get food but also with the motive of getting other resources such as clothing and security, therefore, these prompted them start selectively breed certain animals with specific traits. Lastly, evolution in the means of transport where animals are used as an aid in transporting goods. For example, in the arid areas hardly animals such as camels were used in transporting cargo across the deserts. From the article it is clear that the connection of human to animals has led to human evolution. However, the article does not illustrate how human connection to animals influence physical change. Also not all people like or are close to animals as such. Therefore, how did such people evolve? The second article is driven by the desire to find out the truth claims advanced by some scholars that human beings are still evolving. This article provides an analysis of the research done by a leading scientist Stephen Stearn who believe that human beings are still evolving. This article ascertains that human beings are evolving gradually and over the years an average human being will be 2cm shorter and 1kg heavier. The study was carried out in great caution to eliminate the chances of cultural and social influences. The study also suggests that natural selection in today’s environment is not based on survival but on the fertility levels of women. It asserts that women with high fertility levels are likely to pass on certain traits on to their children and grandchildren. In addition, the physical characteristics of mothers had a direct correlation with the number of children that she gave birth to. The other thing that has emerged from the article is that evolution is a gradual process that is difficult to notice. The author asserts that cultural factors tend to play a larger role in influencing evolution of human beings than natural selection. This makes persons to neglect the idea of evolution, Genetic evidence also proves this assertion by indicating that about 1800 variant genes have spread faster due to their modern day evolution benefits. In addition, it was realized that mutations also play part in the development of human brain. This demonstrates that human beings are undergoing gradual change in their physical and mental characteristics. These changes have not only had negative impacts only but also positive ones like in the case where man has grown to be a more stable creature to ever walk in the planet. This article, therefore, concludes that human beings are still evolving and this trend is not stopping soon. According to the third article, human beings are currently being faced with many disorders such as reproductive cancer, autism, and autoimmune diseases. The cause of these strange disorders is not known but researchers in the “Proceedings of the national Academy of Sciences” are suggesting it is evidence that human beings are evolving. The researchers are suggesting that the current disorders are due to human evolution because of the research they have done in human genetics and human biology. According to researcher by the name Crespi, autism occurs when the genes of both the mother and the father of a child are fighting to express themselves on the child and therefore the child has difficulties in his childhood. A fellow scientist to Crespi, Barnes, has also found out that human being is currently prone to allergies, autoimmune diseases, and asthma because of increased levels of hygiene. He further suggests that, our immune systems are not as strong as those of our ancestors. This is because even the intestinal worms that used to attack our ancestors has also evolved. Barnes therefore, concludes that since the generation is not being attacked by such worms and parasites, their ability to fight disease causing micro-organisms are very weak. According to Stern, natural selection is still practical today despite the advances in modern culture and medicine. Stern found out that as a result of natural selection, heavier women choose to have her first child earlier than other women because they will gain more weight and fail to get children in older ages. Stern proposes that evolutionary knowledge need to be integrated in medical studies so that doctors can treat diseases basing the cause not just on bacteria and virus, but also from evolutionary causes. Doctors need to know that diseases are becoming more difficult to treat because natural selection is favouring reproduction over healthiness. Also understand that disease causing micro-organisms increase in their body complexity more quickly than human beings immune system. Therefore, since it is evident that evolution is major influence in medicine, it should not be ignored. Studies of evolution in medicine can explain sources of disorders and advice on how to treat some disorders. The last article takes a look at the genetic changes that are taking place in humans. The article asserts that there are millions of variants in the genes of human being as a result of mutation. It indicates that natural selection is taking place faster than it has happened previously. The study adds that these variants are mostly characterized by small variants that are hard to notice. The article also identifies that, the major cause of variation is population growth. He asserts that in the past ice age there were about 5million compared to today’s population of 7billion people. This rise in population causes random variations to occur whereby the variations multiply across expanding numbers. It also ascertains that natural selection never stopped but it took a new form of mutations. The variation in genes has both positive and negative consequences. The most detrimental one is that, it may lead to accumulation of genes with harmful effects. 85% of these genes have emerged in a period of less than 10,000 years. A positive effect is that, it may lead to development of genes that are resistance to lactose. There are also other gene variants that have no defined effects and are thought as the reason for emergence of people with extraordinary qualities. This article also predicts that natural selection might take place even faster, if the population continues to expand as it has been doing in the pat few years. The article, therefore, ascertains that population growth increases selection effects. However, the main drawbacks to this theoretical model are that, it focuses on genetic influences only and ignores aspects of culture and technology which also play a role in natural selection. This model cannot in this case provide a conclusive research. Anthropologists have not also integrated genetics with linguistics and ecology in order to come up with useful conclusions. In conclusion, this paper outlines different ideas that try to illustrate evolution in humans from the ancient days to date. These ideas include natural selection, human connection to other animals, increase in population, as well as, variation in genes. It also clear that human beings have with time evolved and improved their way of life or change completely to a new being. Work cited Hsu Jeremy. “Caring for Animals May Have Shaped Human Evolution”. 2ndAugust 2010 http://www.livescience.com/6818-caring-animals-shaped-human-evolution.html. 30 April 2013 Eben Harrell. “Darwin Lives! Modern Humans Are Still Evolving”. 23rd October 2009. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931757,00.html#ixzz2Ry43DGsk. 30 April 2013 Science Daily. “Ongoing Human Evolution Could Explain Recent Rise in Certain Disorders.” 11th January 2010. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100111102538.htm. 30 April 2013 Keim, Brandon. “Human Evolution enters an exciting new phase”. 29th November 2012. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/11/recent-human-evolution-2/ Read More