THE FUTURE OF MAN

THE FUTURE OF MAN

BEFORE YOU READ

-           Do you think that mankind will look the same as he does now in the distant future?

-          If the answer is no, how will he have changed and what will the reasons for the change be?

-          Do you think mankind will change in terms of aptitude, intelligence or other mental faculties in the future or will our future relatives have much the same attributes we do?

-          If you feel there will be change, what changes will take place and what will the reasons be?

QUESTIONS

1.      a) Two views concerning future humans are stated in the text. Which one can be definitely disproved? the big brain vision

b) What erroneous conclusion have scientists drawn from the above?

Human physical evolution has ceased.

c) Why exactly is the above conclusion erroneous?

We continue to show genetically induced changes to our physiology and perhaps our behavior as well.

2.      The text mentions various species of early humans; it also mentions one important condition for evolution. What is it?

becoming separated from the larger population/ finding themselves in a novel environment/ being cut off from kin

3.      At the beginning of paragraph 8, the writer says:” that turns out not to be the case”. What is the case?

Evolution was not finished.

4.      a) In paragraph 10, the writer says the following: “Harpending and Hawks estimated that over the past 10.000 years humans have evolved as much as a hundred times faster than at any other time since the split of the earliest hominid from the ancestors of modern chimpanzees.” State clearly what this evolution was due to: the variety of environments humans moved into; the changes of living conditions brought about by agriculture and cities/

b) Provide three examples from the text to support the writer’s contention.

Few people in China and Africa can digest milk into adulthood whereas everyone in Sweden and Denmark can/ resistance to Lassa fever/ partial resistance to malaria/ changes in skin pigmentation/ changes in hair follicles/ lighter skin/ blue eyes.

5.      The subtitle above paragraph 11 is “Unnatural Selection”. What example of unnatural selection can you find in the text?

People with genetic damage that was once fatal now live and have children.

6.      Read carefully from the beginning of paragraph 13 to the end of paragraph 16.

a) What does inadaptive evolution mean?

Evolutionary change that makes us less fit. 

b) Does David Comings agree with the idea of inadaptive evolution? Yes, he does.

c) Does the above mean that humans are destined to develop a host of antisocial and/ or maladaptive traits? Why?

No, it doesn’t because genes are not destiny; there effects depend on environment.

7.      A three step process to direct the evolution of humans is mentioned in paragraph 17 and 18. What are these three steps?

a) Elaborate screening for genetic makeup

b) Drugs based on the results of the screening

c) Actually changing people’s genes

8.      Would pleitropy be an obstacle to studies to control human aging? Why or why not?

No, aging is not a simple wearing down of body parts as it is a programmed decay.

9.      In paragraph 20 the writer says “One day we will have it in our power to bring a new human species into the world”. How does he reach this conclusion?

With some kind of self imposed geographical or social segregation the genes of enhanced children might drift and eventually differentiate as a new species.

10.  In paragraph 21, George Dyson says “Darwinian evolution may be a victim of its own success”. How does he reach this conclusion?

Everything human beings are doing to operate computer networks is making it easier for computer networks to operate human beings.

11.  The text says “Unlike aging, extinction does not appear to be genetically programmed into any species”. This view is offered as support for the following fact:

There is no genetic or evolutionary reason why we could not still be around to watch the sun die.

12.  Read Bostrom’s predictions carefully and make sure you understand them. Then answer the following questions:

a) What does “that” in the phrase “that would render us obsolete” refer to?

the previous sentence

b) What term does the writer use to refer to Bostrom’s views?

symbiosis with machines

This text will lend itself to a lively discussion and a reaction essay or an opinion essay afterwards. See what your students feel like and proceed accordingly.