Humanity
may split into two sub-species in 100,000 years' time as predicted by HG Wells,
an expert has said.
Evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry of the
London School of Economics expects a genetic upper class and a dim-witted
underclass to emerge.
The human race would
peak in the year 3000, he said - before a decline due to dependence on
technology.
People would
become choosier about their sexual partners, causing humanity to divide into
sub-species, he added.
The descendants of the
genetic upper class would be tall, slim, healthy, attractive, intelligent, and
creative and a far cry from the "underclass" humans who would have
evolved into dim-witted, ugly, squat goblin-like creatures.
Race 'ironed out'
But in the nearer
future, humans will evolve in 1,000 years into giants between 6ft and 7ft tall,
he predicts, while life-spans will have extended to 120 years, Dr Curry claims.
Physical appearance,
driven by indicators of health, youth and fertility, will improve, he says,
while men will exhibit symmetrical facial features, look athletic, and have
squarer jaws, deeper voices and bigger penises.
Women, on the other
hand, will develop lighter, smooth, hairless skin, large clear eyes, pert
breasts, glossy hair, and even features, he adds. Racial differences will be
ironed out by interbreeding, producing a uniform race of coffee-coloured
people.
However, Dr Curry
warns, in 10,000 years time humans may have paid a genetic price for relying on
technology.
Spoiled by gadgets
designed to meet their every need, they could come to resemble domesticated
animals.
Receding chins
Social skills, such as
communicating and interacting with others, could be lost, along with emotions
such as love, sympathy, trust and respect. People would become less able to
care for others, or perform in teams.
Physically, they would
start to appear more juvenile. Chins would recede, as a result of having to
chew less on processed food.
There could also be
health problems caused by reliance on medicine, resulting in weak immune
systems. Preventing deaths would also help to preserve the genetic defects that
cause cancer.
Further into the
future, sexual selection - being choosy about one's partner - was likely to
create more and more genetic inequality, said Dr Curry.
The logical outcome
would be two sub-species, "gracile" and "robust" humans
similar to the Eloi and Morlocks foretold by HG Wells in his 1895 novel The
Time Machine.
"While science and
technology have the potential to create an ideal habitat for humanity over the
next millennium, there is a possibility of a monumental genetic hangover over
the subsequent millennia due to an over-reliance on technology reducing our
natural capacity to resist disease, or our evolved ability to get along with
each other, said Dr Curry.
He carried out the report for men's satellite TV channel Bravo.
More Articles: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
Sources of information:
BBC News: 19.10.2008 human species may splits in two. 17 October 2006
<news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6057734.stm >
Academic year 2008/2009
© a.r.e.a./Dr.Vicente Forés López
© Maria Page Martinez
mapamar5@alumni.uv.es
Universitat de Valčncia Press