Thanks to Igor in Italy
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Genetic inferiority threatens mankind, professor says
Published: 19 February 2010 14:24 | Changed: 19 February 2010 17:52
By Wim Köhler
The human race is slowly becoming a mutant shadow of its former
well-adapted self, says genetics professor Rolf Hoekstra.
Is the human race becoming genetically inferior? Rolf Hoekstra thinks
so. The professor of genetics gave his parting lecture at the University
of Wageningen on Thursday, titled /Beyond Darwin/. He argued that
humanity has come to a turning point. After millions of years of
becoming better adapted to our environment, humanity has been set free
from the harsh discipline of natural selection.
Hoekstra has been a professor for two decades. He specialised in
evolution, studying the natural selection of bacteria and fungi. He
co-authored a teaching manual called /Evolution, an introduction/.
*/Why is Darwin behind us?/*
"Darwin saw natural selection as a driving force behind evolution. But
this force has dwindled in strength for people living in developed
nations. We can control our environment to such an extent that most
problems are dealt with before natural selection has a chance to get
involved. We have medical and technical solutions for most physical
problems, even those with genetic causes. We have sapped natural
selection of its strength."
*/Is that a bad thing?/*
"No, it's not bad, but it does lead to genetic deterioration. Our
medical solutions are elegant because they are less cruel than natural
selection. As long as we are able to maintain this culture, there is no
problem, but if it ever disappears, a lot of problems will rear their
heads."
*/What should we do about it?/*
"I don't know if there are any humane solutions to the problem.
Draconian ones exist - which I oppose."
*/When did this deterioration set in? /*
"After the Industrial Revolution, around 1850, the human environment
changed dramatically: better sanitation, more medical options. It marked
an explosion of technological possibilities."
*/An example?/*
"A crucial operation like the Caesarean has become more prevalent and
saves lives. Sometimes, when a baby's head is too big to pass through
his mother's pelvic cavity, delivery can be fatal. This problem is
partially genetic. If you allow it to continue to exist by carrying out
Caesareans, the mutations that cause it can spread."
*/Has it been proven that detrimental mutations continue to exist in a
protected environment?/*
"Yes, quite often. In experiments with all sorts of microorganisms for
instance, but also in fruit flies. Natural selection is impossible if
all parents have the same number of children.
"If you allow animals to live in favourable conditions for generations
and then expose them to -- let say 'wartime conditions' you can see the
deterioration. You can see the mutations have accumulated."
*/And favourable mutations? Do they still have a chance of proliferating
under these circumstances?/*
"Barely. You would hope that the bearers of good mutations have
disproportionally large numbers of children, but that becomes unlikely.
What does keep on working is sexual selection. That is, as long as
animals seek out partners who exhibit indicators of health and fitness,
and give off the impression of having other good characteristics. This
will probably slow the spread of detrimental genes as well. The last
thing I want is to be a doomsayer."
*/What new favourable mutations could we use?/*
"I think behavioural ones. More and more people are living in increasing
proximity to each and there is a huge amount of pressure to function
well socially. I don't buy into the theory that urban environments
select a genotype that is more anti-social. Does anti-social behaviour
carry benefits in cities? Geneticists of the last century hoped for
genes that would lead to increased intelligence. I never understood
that. Does the entire world need more intelligence? What the world
needs, I think, is more understanding, tolerance, friendliness and
pleasant interaction. If that means being a little more stupid, so be
it. There will be plenty of super-intelligent people left."
http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2487534.ece/Genetic_inferiority_threatens_mankind%2C_professor_says%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E
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