Comments on: Evolution is Ongoing http://healthblog.ncpa.org/evolution-is-ongoing/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Wed, 23 May 2012 12:15:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Devon Herrick http://healthblog.ncpa.org/evolution-is-ongoing/comment-page-1/#comment-54581 Devon Herrick Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:02:43 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=9227#comment-54581 Better nutrition likely accounts for the increase in Japanese height. The same effect of genes on the body can vary depending on whether they are turned on or off by external factors. Arguably, evolutionary survival has rewarded traits that are now coming into play, such as the ability to adapt to changes in environment. More food and less disease might have turned on certain genes telling Japanese bodies to not stop growing as early. Maybe these genes have always been turned on in the Dutch. Or maybe the Dutch would not survive famines as well as the Japanese. Certainly, Native American populations have not fared as well under plentiful food supplies. Better nutrition likely accounts for the increase in Japanese height. The same effect of genes on the body can vary depending on whether they are turned on or off by external factors. Arguably, evolutionary survival has rewarded traits that are now coming into play, such as the ability to adapt to changes in environment. More food and less disease might have turned on certain genes telling Japanese bodies to not stop growing as early. Maybe these genes have always been turned on in the Dutch. Or maybe the Dutch would not survive famines as well as the Japanese. Certainly, Native American populations have not fared as well under plentiful food supplies.

]]> By: Virginia http://healthblog.ncpa.org/evolution-is-ongoing/comment-page-1/#comment-54579 Virginia Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:11:58 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=9227#comment-54579 It makes me wonder what sorts of adaptations are necessary for the modern computer age: being near-sighted, short attention span, tiny fingers (for tiny keyboards), and an intense patience for waiting in line at Central Market on Saturday morning? The whole divergence in population (the taller, elite race, and the shorter, laboring class) has been discussed before. H.G. Wells postulated what life would be like in the future, and he arrived at the same conclusion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Time_Machine On the other hand, a lot of birth control advocates tend to think that as populations became more affluent, they decrease the number of children they have. If this is the case, as nations become more developed, birth rates will fall. There will be no population divergence, and the result will be the homogenous gene pool that was also discussed in the article. It makes me wonder what sorts of adaptations are necessary for the modern computer age: being near-sighted, short attention span, tiny fingers (for tiny keyboards), and an intense patience for waiting in line at Central Market on Saturday morning?

The whole divergence in population (the taller, elite race, and the shorter, laboring class) has been discussed before. H.G. Wells postulated what life would be like in the future, and he arrived at the same conclusion.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Time_Machine

On the other hand, a lot of birth control advocates tend to think that as populations became more affluent, they decrease the number of children they have. If this is the case, as nations become more developed, birth rates will fall. There will be no population divergence, and the result will be the homogenous gene pool that was also discussed in the article.

]]> By: Ken http://healthblog.ncpa.org/evolution-is-ongoing/comment-page-1/#comment-54577 Ken Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:41:52 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=9227#comment-54577 On the other hand, it seems unlikely that these developments are random. On the other hand, it seems unlikely that these developments are random.

]]> By: Brian Williams. http://healthblog.ncpa.org/evolution-is-ongoing/comment-page-1/#comment-54576 Brian Williams. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:11:22 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=9227#comment-54576 I’m not sure whether this is evolution or de-evolution. Bigger feet. Smaller brains. The theory that the human race is evolving over time seems illogical (to me) when you start with George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and trace a line to Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. I’m not sure whether this is evolution or de-evolution. Bigger feet. Smaller brains. The theory that the human race is evolving over time seems illogical (to me) when you start with George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson and trace a line to Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

]]> By: Joe S. http://healthblog.ncpa.org/evolution-is-ongoing/comment-page-1/#comment-54575 Joe S. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:09:19 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/?p=9227#comment-54575 You're not giving us an explanation for these developments. Years ago, changes occured because they had evolutionary survival value. But surely an extra 5 inches isn't helping Japanese men survive any better today. You’re not giving us an explanation for these developments. Years ago, changes occured because they had evolutionary survival value. But surely an extra 5 inches isn’t helping Japanese men survive any better today.

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