I would argue that the more "natural" forces of natural selection (survival on account of resistance to disease/infection, better hunting capabilities, avoidance of obviously fatal situations) may be working only in non-developed (are there any?) or early-developing countries. In highly developed countries, selection seems to be quite random -- survival being mostly attributable to being in the right places at the right times (being near a hospital during a heart attack, being just off the path of the drunk driver, NOT being the customer served the salad with the e-coli, NOT having been born and raised in carcinogenic surroundings, etc.) We all like to think because we're smart (or think we are), we have some kind of edge, but I just don't see it. Maybe I'm one of those who just THINKS I'm smart......
Cheers - Linda Perelli Wright Director of Special Projects Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kristina Pendergrass Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 8:33 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: current natural selection pressures I guess the question is whether these or other-mentioned modern alternatives are really affecting selection (as in decreasing reproductive fitness) or are simply having an effect on mortality... Kristina Pendergrass > How about modern alternatives to big predators such as traffic, > accidents with tools etc, abuse of alcohol and drugs, or a combination > of all of the above? I would say that in these modern times, there is > still plenty of possibilities to get hurt. > > Jasja Dekker > > PhD student > Resource Ecology Group > Dept. Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University > > On 2/10/06 11:01 AM, "Buffington, Matt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> This is another very broad question that has been bothering me lately. > >> = Are there any current natural selective pressures on humans? I'd >> say = this is mainly for developed countries. I see lots of people >> that are = old enough to reproduce that never would have long ago. I >> hesisate to = list things that may have led to an early dimise but >> there are lots of = them. As far as I know, there are no lions, >> bears > >> or wolves hanging out = in my office building waiting to pounce on >> the > >> old, very young, infirm, = or stupid. Just curious. >> =20 >> Matt Buffington >> Indianapolis, IN >
