Humans Evolving 100 Times Faster Than Ever

John Hawks writes "A new genomics study in PNAS shows that humans have been evolving new adaptive genes during the past 10,000 years much faster than ever before. The study says that evolution has sped up because of population growth, making people adapt faster to new diseases, new diets, and social changes like cities. Oh, and I'm the lead author. I've been reading Slashdot for a long time, and let me just say that our study doesn't necessarily apply to trolls."

Comments

adaptation?

[IAR80]

Is that implying evolution? 10,000 years!! I thought Earth is only 7,000 years old. I declare this article a heresy.

Re:adaptation?

[CmdrGravy]

No, HE ... SAID ... HORSES !

Re: adaptation?

[Black Parrot]

Is that implying evolution? No, he was just using big words to say that we're being intelligently redesigned faster than ever.

Re:adaptation?

[sqldr]

You just reminded me of my recipe for horse sauce!

(feeds 30)

• 1 horse
• 2kg custard powder
• Swarfega
• 2 dozen eggs
• 8 tins of lutefisk
• Large bucket

Place ingredients into bucket, use an electric hand whisk to turn into an emulsion, bring to the boil, and then vomit in it. Delicious.

Re:adaptation?

[WingedEarth]

The scientific aspects of evolution are irrelevant. The world is merely Nature being experienced by Self, and affected by Will. Evolution is the affect of Will upon Nature. Without Will being exerted, the material and mundane returns to Chaos. On the human level, this begins with degeneration of civilization, a cyclical event that has unfortunately affected us for the past fifty years.

Re:adaptation?

[Daniel Dvorkin]

You know, Nietzsche died in an insane asylum.

Just sayin'. ;)

Re: adaptation?

[Gilmoure]

Redesigned implies a mistake was made in the first place. HERESY!

Re:adaptation?

[JavaLord]

"Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church."

Man, I have to start going to church again.

us trolls will rise up against you

[Anonymous Coward]

you fear our mutation rate!

Not only evolution

[Harold Halloway]

Not only is human evolution speeding up, but so is self-promotion, apparently.

Millenia of "progress"

[El Yanqui]

OMFG! dat so kewl evolution is da r0xx0r! we r the 1337!!!11 LOLZ

bad timing

[KiloByte]

I think the author meant to say that Jesus has been performing more miracles in the last 2000 years (the earth isn't even 10,000 years old yet). Heresy! It's well-known that the world has been created last Thursday!

Trolls on Slashdot?!?

[Farmer Tim]

You come down under my bridge and say that!

Evolution...

[Capt James McCarthy]

I know, it only seems like yesterday that I was an AC.

short version

[jovius]

Successful copulation advances evolution. The more sex the better chances to have offspring, which seek adaptation. We should all have sex with every suitable body. The more diverse the better. Now. Forget about the thought systems and public codes, this is for the human race! Let's hyperseed!! Woohoo!!! oh yeah.

Trolls way ahead in evolution

[Xordin]

What be happening mon?

You concept of evolution is slow compared to our daily respec.

LIARS!!!

[ocbwilg]

It's not true! It's just that God has been intelligently re-designing us at a higher rate.

Re:Not anymore

[Anonymous Coward]

>Nowdays everybody can have an offspring no matter what diseases, diets or social changes he is subjected to

I bet to differ - I can't get laid to save my life.

Re:PLAGARISM in its worst form

[Arancaytar]

Careful, now you've revealed the Secrets of Scientology. Raving cultists will come after you. :P

(Unless you're a raving cultist yourself. Er... I have somewhere else to be, quickly.)

Re:Not anymore

[ketilwaa]

Everyone seems to be missing the point that natural selection is not the main factor in human evolution. Sexual selection is. And the selection pressure is pushing as hard as ever.

I think at least a couple of slashdotters get laid, proving there is still a lot of female desperation out there. Unless of course evolution is favouring pale bodies radiated only by computer screens.

Re:Backwards?

[cheater512]

Yes when I say humans I mean the western world.

Australia is on the east. Yay! ;)

Re:Applying it to trolls

[trolltalk.com]

"I think it does indeed apply to trolls and prist fosters: evolution does not necessarily mean progressit can simply indicate a species adapting to fill a niche."

[X] Hey, I resemble that remark, you ignorant clod!
[X] Its like open source, you "have a niche you want to scratch".
[X] This explains the global obesity epidemic. As supermarket aisles get wider, people evolve to fill that niche.