Thread: How far can evolution go?

Does evolution even have a limit? Will species continue growing forever to achieve better and better physical and mental quality? If evolution happened over the course of, let’s say, a billion years starting now, what would happen? If evolution went on for let’s say, a decillion years somehow, would the species that went through said evolution be practically immortal? Would they be perfect? I would love to hear your thoughts on this, thank you!

Define "Far", "better", and "quality" in a biological context.

The best definition of evolutionary biology is essentially boiled down to "Congrats you didn't die long enough to boink and have kids".

Evolution is not a quest for perfection, its a series of fuckups that are just good enough to give individuals the option to survive and reproduce.

Originally Posted by Paleoichneum

Define "Far", "better", and "quality" in a biological context.

The best definition of evolutionary biology is essentially boiled down to "Congrats you didn't die long enough to boink and have kids".

Evolution is not a quest for perfection, its a series of fuckups that are just good enough to give individuals the option to survive and reproduce.

On the other hand we do have the wish to see our civilisation improve (in its own terms).

It may be naive to think that natural selection might give us a boost in that direction

We do seem to be evolving faster and faster as a species but I think there is a feeling that we may have outgrown the natural selection process in regards to what is coming down the road.

Except of course in the variety of new ways we have to destroy ourselves quite possibly for good (to be replaced by some other species possibly?)

Originally Posted by geordief

Originally Posted by Paleoichneum

Define "Far", "better", and "quality" in a biological context.

The best definition of evolutionary biology is essentially boiled down to "Congrats you didn't die long enough to boink and have kids".

Evolution is not a quest for perfection, its a series of fuckups that are just good enough to give individuals the option to survive and reproduce.

On the other hand we do have the wish to see our civilisation improve (in its own terms).

It may be naive to think that natural selection might give us a boost in that direction

We do seem to be evolving faster and faster as a species but I think there is a feeling that we may have outgrown the natural selection process in regards to what is coming down the road.

Except of course in the variety of new ways we have to destroy ourselves quite possibly for good (to be replaced by some other species possibly?)

While there is some natural selection still happening, the enormity of the human population as a whole is diluting any major effect on it. We are changing in physical appearance based on globalized perceptions of beauty, while at the same time we are gradually decreasing in fertility.

I would hesitate to say natural selection has anything to do with the changes in our species at this point. Its more down to better genetic screening at conception, then what level of poverty you experience after that and how much you let Social media and other factors influence you. True natural selection (eg gored by bison, eaten by croc, and even death by allergy are becoming rare in relation to total human population)