Are Modern Humans Still Evolving?In the year eighteen fifty-nine, Charles Darwin published a book which he called “The Origin of Species”. In this book Darwin theorized that populations evolve over the years through a process called natural selection. Darwin realized that in a population, more individuals were born than could possibly survive, he also recognized that the individuals that survived and reproduced were the ones with some sort of competitive advantage over rival animals, therefore they were more likely to pass their useful traits down to their offspring (Darwin, 1859). As this process of natural selection occurred for millions of years, these desirable traits that were once only prevalent in a few individual animals became common traits for entire species (Winston, 2009). There are countless amounts of evidence that suggest that humans owe their existence to evolution, however, many people are skeptical as to whether or not it is still occurring, and whether or not it is happening in the same way. Some scientists hold that the human race has reached “its biological pinnacle and is no longer capable of changing” (McKie, 2005, ¶1). Alternatively, some experts believe that humans are evolving faster than ever (Sample, 2007), and others believe it is still happening, just on different terms. There has not been any deciding evidence as to whether or not humans are still evolving, however, saying it isn’t happening is a very difficult position to defend. Gene mutations happen at random so saying that humans will never undergo any more evolutionary changes seems very unlikely (Douglas, 2006).

Many scientists and evolutionists believe that the complexion of modern society is changing the means by which natural selection and, consequentially, evolution is occurring. The evolutionary trait of an advanced brain is what defines us as humans; ironically that same brain is what is allowing us to change the rules of evolution. As a result of a number of medical advancements, doctors are able to sustain life that would not have lasted back in Darwin’s time. This means that humans with genetic advantages are not the only ones to survive (Nasrallah, 2009). In today’s world, genes are not as important for survival as they once were, with about ninety-eight percent of children in well-developed areas living until adulthood (Belluz, 2008). When considering how evolution might be happening, experts say the human species may be “in a sort of genetic drift in which changes happen randomly with no driving force behind evolutionary changes” (Douglas, 2006). Upcoming technological advancements may also play a big role in changing the way in which evolution functions. If genetic engineering becomes common, humans will be able to choose certain genes and get rid of others; the future of evolution will be dependent on which genetic traits parents will choose for their children. This would have huge implications; humans would essentially have evolution in their hands (Adams, 2004). It seems that in modern society, humans have more of a say in natural selection than nature and the environment does. Additionally, survival of the fittest has been taken out of the equation with the “survival regardless of fitness” (Nasrallah, 2009) replacing it.

On the other hand, some scientists like to believe that evolution was halted between fifty thousand and a hundred thousand years ago, before the races diverged (Douglas, 2006). Geneticist Steve Jones theorizes that evolution has come to a halt as a result of societal changes on earth (McKie, 2005). He says that natural selection, mutation, and random change were the three things that drove evolution, and he believes that these factors are no longer present in the modern, western society. He further argues that the likelihood of mutations in genes is declining because of a generally younger age for fathers; he says fathers over the age of 35 are more likely to pass on mutations. This is because cell divisions in males increase with age, and increasing the number of cell divisions increases the chance for an error or a mutation (Belluz, 2008). Natural selection is also not as prevalent in modern society, years ago almost half the children died before twenty, whereas nowadays most people reach adulthood regardless of their genetics (Douglas, 2006). The final factor that Jones believed was responsible for the slowing down of evolution is the decreasing of random change in human genes. According to the rules of the animal kingdom, the human population should be ten thousand times smaller than it actually is (Belluz, 2008). Small populations are much more likely to undergo random evolution than large populations because genes can be accidentally lost. Because the earth’s population of humans is so large, it is very unlikely that any genes will be accidentally lost (Belluz, 2008). Furthermore, human races are now being constantly mixed, which makes the likelihood of losing any genes even less (McKie, 2005). Although all of these factors contribute to a change in the way evolution happens, it seems very farfetched that evolution can ever truly be stopped.

In an alternate view, others are convinced that evolution is now happening faster than ever because of the speed at which society is changing. According to a study done at the University of Wisconsin: “in the past 5,000 years, humans have evolved up to 100 times quicker” than ever before (Sample, 2009, ¶1). This increase in the rate of evolution appears to be because of rapid growth in population (Shute, 2008), new mutations are being spread around faster than ever before. One example of a recent addition to the human genome is the ability to digest lactose; this gene became common only about three-thousand years ago and spread through the population very quickly and is now present in most people (Shute, 2008). Also, a gene called microcephalin which regulates brain size, emerged less than sixty thousand years ago is now prevalent in seventy percent of the population (Douglas, 2006). It seems that the rate at which the human population is growing is allowing new mutations to spread quickly through the population, even if natural selection is less prevalent. In the future, scientists predict that genes which defend against disease will be the most rapidly developing part of the human genome. Robin McKie predicts that “In a thousand years, Africa will be populated only by the descendants of those who are currently immune to the AIDS virus” (2005, ¶7). Due to the nature of evolution, no one can predict what humans will look like; however, some scientists have come up with some interesting theories. Alan Boyle hypothesizes that humans will all become much more homogenous, he believes all the races will converge into one (Boyle, 2005). He also speculates about the evolutionary possibilities if humans are able to spread out onto other planets. If humans diverge onto other planets, he believes speciation will occur, and the humans on one planet will evolve into a separate species, distinct from the humans on a different planet (Boyle, 2005).

Evolution is and always has been very unpredictable; there is seemingly no way to determine whether or not evolution is still occurring or what rules it is following. Only one thing seems to be certain in terms of modern evolution, and that is the fact that humans nowadays have more control over their own evolution than they ever did in the past. The human race was able to survive throughout history because they evolved an enlarged and highly developed brain; this same brain is what is now allowing humans to build societies that allow for survival regardless of genetic superiority (Nasrallah, 2009). As a result of new medical technology, humans have the ability to sustain life, cure diseases, and take care of those who are disabled. No longer does survival of the fittest play a role in human society, because in society those who are fit are now finding ways to help those who are unfit (Nasrallah, 2009). The human lifestyle has definitely undergone a change since Darwin wrote the ‘Origin of Species’ in eighteen fifty-nine, and it is almost certain that natural selection has changed since then, however, it is not clear as to what extent the rules of natural selection have been altered. Quite possibly, the rate of evolution could now have been heightened as a result of many technological advancements. Or, evolution could have been halted as a result of human interference with natural selection. Either way, it seems likely that today’s evolutionary patterns will only be uncovered to mankind in the future.

ReferencesAdams, Mike (2004). Top ten technologies: #7:genetic engineering of humans. Retrieved March 28, 2009, from Natural News Web site: http://www.naturalnews.com/001337.htmlBelluz, Julia (2008, october 7). Leading geneticist Steve Jones says human evolution is over. Retrieved March 28, 2009, from The Times Online Web site: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article4894696.eceBoyle, Alan (2005, May 2). Human evolution at the crossroads. Retrieved March 29, 2009, from MSNBC Web site: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7103668/Darwin, Charles (1859). Origin of species: By means of natural selection. Chicago, IL: Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Inc.

Douglas, Kate (2006). Are we still evolving?. Retrieved March 28, 2009, from New Scientist Web site: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18925421.300-are-we-still-evolving.html?page=1McKie, Robin (2005). Is human evolution finally over?. Retrieved March 28, 2009, from Guardian Web site: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2005/feb/03/genetics.researchNasrallah, H A (March 2009). Is Darwin still relevant? Advanced human brain breaks evolutionary rules. (Charles Darwin)(Editorial). Current psychiatry, 8, 3. P14. Retrieved March 28,2009, from General Reference Center gold via Gale: http://find.galegroup.com/ips/start.do?prodId=IPSSample, Ian (2007 december 11). Humans are still evolving and it's happening faster than ever. Retrieved March 29, 2009, from The Gaurdian Web site: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/dec/11/evolutionShute, Nancy (2008, July 24). Where is human evolution heading?. Retrieved March 28, 2009, from US news Web site: http://www.usnews.com/articles/science/2008/07/24/where-is-human-evolution-heading.html?PageNr=1Winston, Robert (2009). Evolution revolution. New York, NY: DK publishing.
Abstract
Human societies respond to ecological (for example, climate) indicators by means of numerous conduits including break up or break down, resettlement and inventive construction by way of innovation and discovery. Extreme drought, for example, has triggered both communal disintegrate and ingenious administration of water through irrigation. Human answers to change may sequentially regulate responses among weather conditions, communal, and environmental schemes, making a convoluted world broad web of multidirectional attachments in time and space. Ensuring befitting future answers and feedbacks inside the human-environment scheme will count on our comprehending of this past world broad web and how to acclimatize to future surprises. To evolve that comprehending, we are required to gaze at multiple time and space scales.

Introduction Human evolution is the term that denotes the process of evolution which leads up to the manifestation of up to date human. Evolution is a process parallel to the continuous linear progression of time which, in a variable alternating phase-outs increases stagnation-regression, delivers all the factors of phenomenological world organic and inorganic matter, concepts and facts towards achieving their purpose, and that guides human towards increasing their knowledge, a better understanding of the universe, itself, the organization of society and, in principle, to a condition which, in time varied propel it towards its own conquest and its environment increasingly expanded. The learning of evolution of human being engages several logical regulations, together with corporeal anthropology, archaeology, primatology, genetics linguistics, and embryology (Heng, pp. 512–25).

Research Question Are the humans still evolving?

Research Methodology

Research design For this research study, the secondary qualitative research methodology will be conducted.

Secondary and Qualitative Methodology This research study will be based on the data which will collect via secondary research. The data will be extracted from different sources like peer review journal, articles, websites, and different online books. The aim of secondary research will accumulate the information via different sources like broadcast media, literature, publication, and other sources which will be classified as non human interference. This research type will not require any subjects that are pertinent to human subjects. In contrast with the methods of quantitative research, the qualitative research methodologies occupy additional partisanship. The researchers will more information by using the qualitative research methods in secondary and primary research. As this research will be based on the secondary research method, that is the reason that the research will be exploratory and its nature will be open-ended. The advantages of using the qualitative research are that, it is less expensive in comparison with quantitative research methods. Information or data acquisition is more effective and efficient. Researcher should use qualitative methods for their research because it is the right method for collecting information for the research topic. Its viability depends on the type of research; if the data cannot be collected with the quantitative research methods then qualitative methods are the right choice.

Literature Search The implication of the subject of research and the year of publication has been the decisive factor for the compilation of appropriate prose. The practice of private, public, and the online libraries has been prepared for the gathering of the majorly applicable accessible data. Handful online records for the collection of data contacted will be Proquest, Questia, Ebsco, and Phoenix and so on. Apart from the Internet sources the qualitative sources will also been used in this research study.

Data Analysis One of the advantages of secondary qualitative research design in this research study will be that the researcher will be able to concentrate on the already collected data through the authenticated websites and interviews. By using this methodology, research will be conducted in-depth, and note taking will be scrupulous and organized.

Ethical Considerations One deep ethical problem that exploits researchers, during investigation the use of knowledge cannot be avoided. That is why the researcher should consider the ethical reasoning while conducting the research study. The researchers should take the transparent actions and consider a wider range of queries pertinent to aim and objective of the study’s validity and its reliability. Following are some questions that should be consider while conducting any research study: 1. What is the reason for choosing this topic? 2. What are the sources of funding this research study? 3. To what extent does the subject declare or maintain method? 4. Are concerns of ethics and admission understandable or not? 5. From what institutions are the explanations of truth and science obtained? 6. In what manners the problems of demonstration, bias, reliability, and validity are being thrashed out? 7. What is the function of the investigation? In what modes do these prop up the rationale of the research? 8. How this research supplies to understanding and knowledge? A reasonable consideration of what outlines information and of the accuracy with which it is offered must be competent to undergo coherent assessment from different point of views. Provided the complexness’ of nature of human being, complete indulgence is impossible to effect from the exercise of a single methodology of research. By pursuing the ethical proceedings, the investigators will represent the community the approach they choose for inspecting a particular event. With obvious and clear endeavor, it is feasible to value the restricted, but not undividable, regions occupied by natural and social, as a result cooperative approbation for the worth of several outlooks of the experiences of the individuals.

Discussion

Evolution only Evolutionists suppose, and the magistrates have the same opinion that firm constructionism cannot be compulsory in order to be instructed in groups of science course. Whereas stringent conceptionists however put their sabers off, their arguments are mainly controversial, excluding in the public opinion court, because of the blatantly basis of religion of their dispute. To evolutionists such as Eugenie Scott, “Intelligent design is a fancy way of saying ‘God did it’”.

Public Opinion about Evolution Americans separated for years on the issue of evolution with around 45 percent admitting it and 45 percent refusing it, and the rest of the natives ambivalent. This ratio of recognition is greatly extraordinary amongst developed populations, where in general 80 percent or high of the natives admit development, the majority of the rest are uncertain, and a small number of people decline the concept completely (Dean, pp. 16). A range of opinion polls show numerous appealing approaches regarding how the group analyzes evolution.

Life-History Evolution in Modern Humans In spite of exercising civilization and expertise as methods of becoming accustomed with latest surroundings, human beings, similar to every other living thing in the world, go through inherent alterations as a reaction to circumstances in relation to them or in this incidence, constructive characters in their genetic materials. Extraordinarily only some experimental researches of worldly transforms in traits of life-history in human beings have judged as hypotheses of micro evolution. Indeed, these ought not to be rejected a past only as an abrupt non-genetic rationalization may be present. Particularly, expected assortment on timing of reproduction come s out to be prevalent in human beings, while “at first reproduction (AFR)” was uncovered to be genetic in some modern inhabitants, with an average of 0.11of transverse- study (Stearns, Byars, Govindaraju, Ewbank, pp. 611–622). Furthermore, as a minimum one more research revealed a depressing covariance of genes in between AFR and LRS [in an American populace (Byars, Ewbank, Govindaraju, Stearns, pp.1787–1792)], which is a superior interpreter of the feedback to collection as compared to the equation of the breeder (Morrissey, Kruuk, Wilson, pp. 2277–2288). Obviously, the capacity for inherited feedbacks of the type studied at this point is not only restricted to the population of île aux Coudres. Though, just by the extensive relevance of the techniques utilized at this juncture to further populations of human being can launch their generalization. It is frequently declared that contemporary human beings have discontinued developing and evolving for the reason that technological and cultural developments have eradicated ordinary range. On the contrary, latest research studies demonstrate that the collection can be powerful in modern populace. Although, identifying a reaction to collection is demanding on the whole; prior facts from uncultivated animals has been censured for equally relating anti-conventional tests of statistics and worsening to think about unsystematic flow of genes. As accounted for communities, innate choice privileged a prior period of age “at first reproduction (AFR)” amongst females. AFR was extremely transmissible and hereditarily associated with health as well, expecting a micro change in evolution on the way to prior reproduction. In harmony with this prophecy, AFR rejected from around 26 to 22 years over a period of 140 years. Significantly, a substantial change was uncovered in the values of breeding for this attribute, demonstrating that the revolution in AFR fundamentally took place at the level of genetics. In addition, the trend of inheritance was greater than anticipated underneath the outcome of unaccompanied indiscriminate drift of genetics. The outcomes reveal that the micro-evolution can be demonstrable in excess of comparatively only some age groups in individuals and give emphasis to the necessity for learnings of demography of human being and ecology of reproduction to think about the position and responsibility of the processes of evolution.

Conclusion The theme of evolution of modern humans has congregated much concentration in latest history, for the reason that scientists have discovered confirmation of connection between the genus that no longer survive in current humanity among groups that continue living in this globe (Bergson, 175-161). The record outlined the open debate on evolution of genus from the book “Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin, though a lot of thoughts in that book were unsuccessful to present powerful substantiation and dispute of what Darwin declares but the humanity is at the moment observing loads of genus which have been developed from one structure to a new for their continued existence. Evolution is a process parallel to the continuous linear progression of time which, in a variable alternating phase-outs increases stagnation-regression, delivers all the factors of phenomenological world organic and inorganic matter, concepts and facts towards achieving their purpose, and that guides human towards increasing their knowledge, a better understanding of the universe, itself, the organization of society and, in principle, to a condition which, in time varied propel it towards its own conquest and its environment increasingly expanded.
Works Cited

Bergson, H. Creative evolution. Mineola, NY: Dover. (1998). pp. 175-161 (Original work published 1907)
Birx, H. J. Interpreting evolution: Darwin & Teilhard de Chardin. Amherst, NY: (1991). pp. n.d Prometheus Books.
Byars, S.G., Ewbank, D., Govindaraju, D.R., Stearns, S.C. “Colloquium papers”: Natural selection in a contemporary human population. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107(Suppl 1): (2010), pp.1787–1792.
Hamer, Dean The God Gene: How Faith Is Hardwired Into Our Genes. Anchor Books. (2005). pp. 16.
Heng, H.H., "The genome-centric concept: resynthesis of evolutionary theory". BioEssays 31 (5): May, 2009. pp. 512–25.
Morrissey, M.B., Kruuk, L.E.B., Wilson, A.J. The danger of applying the breeder’s equation in observational studies of natural populations. J Evol Biol 23: (2010), pp. 2277–2288.
Stearns, S.C., Byars, S.G., Govindaraju, D.R., Ewbank, D. Measuring selection in contemporary human populations. Nat Rev Genet 11: (2010), pp. 611–622.