Evolution.

[dark-amon]

The catholic church. This isn't a swipe at it, it's an observation. For so many years it refused to change and wasn't what people needed from religion that it's been losing a lot of members. Lately they've tried changing a few things but not a lot and it will lead to its destruction.

Although you make a valid point, but even the catholic church evolves. It just does so slower than the regular social structure and thus it seems like it dosen't evolve at all. But some changes has occured (<- I have no idea how that word is written) like that they are more open for the discussion about evolution, as long as it is God who is the cause of the evolution.

I think it isn't possible to stagnate evolution as it happens on a genetic level. It is the genes who evolve to increase the chance to be passed on to a new generation.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

I don't think humans will evolve further than we have now. There are too many people surviving diseases and genetic illness. Brilliant for us, but a kick in the quad for evolution.

We probably will evolve further, but we'll probably end up going the way of the quarians and having less immune systems as we can fuck things over with some medicine.

Good idea but doubtful. Do you know how much fecal matter you breathe in everyday? Unless we live in a sterile environment I can't see our immune systems being affected that much.

The quarian example was a bit extreme, but if you compare peoples immune system today to those of a few hundred years ago, then we are definately weaker.

I'm not sure about that actually, I've never really thought about it. I always thought it was pretty much the same, I mean back then, if you got an infected leg/arm then you had to have it amputated, it would be the same today if it was not for advances in medicine. I do think this whole 'cleaning' culture is getting a bit silly, especially parents. let your kids eat dirt! It's good for them!

 

[Beatrix]

Change isn't the same as evolution.

I change over the course of my life, but it doesn't change my genes.
Change as a species is evolution, I guess that's true.

And nothing is impeding evolution because nothing is pushing it along.
We've mastered survival, which is the only thing evolution is about.

Life is now just waiting around until you're old enough to die.


...
That was a bit morbid, so I guess I'll try to name at least something.
EA.
EA is holding back evolution. We'd all have wings and four thumbs if it weren't for them \/

 

[Daveman]

The catholic church. This isn't a swipe at it, it's an observation. For so many years it refused to change and wasn't what people needed from religion that it's been losing a lot of members. Lately they've tried changing a few things but not a lot and it will lead to its destruction.

Wow, somebody unafraid of controversy... I like that in my victims...

Anyway I'd still have to agree with you. If there's one religion that should really move on it's Catholicism.

I don't agree with people who are saying we humans aren't evolving any more. There are still selection pressures causing us to adapt, they're just not as obvious as Predators or sickness.

 

[lockeslylcrit]

The catholic church. This isn't a swipe at it, it's an observation. For so many years it refused to change and wasn't what people needed from religion that it's been losing a lot of members. Lately they've tried changing a few things but not a lot and it will lead to its destruction.

Although you make a valid point, but even the catholic church evolves. It just does so slower than the regular social structure and thus it seems like it dosen't evolve at all. But some changes has occured (<- I have no idea how that word is written) like that they are more open for the discussion about evolution, as long as it is God who is the cause of the evolution.

I think it isn't possible to stagnate evolution as it happens on a genetic level. It is the genes who evolve to increase the chance to be passed on to a new generation.

If you've noticed through Western civilization and history, the Catholic Church has only evolved because events have forced it to evolve. Take, for example, the Thirty Years War. The result of the war was the secularization of nations, and the Church taking a backseat to politics.

On the genetic level, stagnation happens if there is no change in the environment that forces one to adapt. This, and if humans started having children via incest only, are the only real ways to maintain a stagnation that leads to extinction.

 

[Daniel_Rosamilia]

Change isn't the same as evolution.
EA.
EA is holding back evolution. We'd all have wings and four thumbs if it weren't for them \/

Hmmm, I like the wings part, the 4 thumbs, not so much.

Now, for something holding back evolution.
MY SISTER.
Her astounding stupidity holds back the advancement of the entire human race.

Maybe that was a bit mean, so TROLLS.

 

[orangeapples]

The art of storytelling coupled with the art of writing a good story.

we have many great stories, but horrible storytelling
we have great storytellers, but such bland stories.
then we have cases of bland story with a horrible execution.

 

[lockeslylcrit]

then we have cases of bland story with a horrible execution.

I'm guessing I'm not the only one thinking about Twilight right now...

 

[iLikeHippos]

Doesn't it usually take 10 million years and devastating catastrophes to change the genes and forms of creatures?

And humanity has only lived for 1 million years. (So I've heard at least) We still got a biiiiig step until we get a "recognizable" change.

 

[Doug]

Doesn't it usually take 10 million years and devastating catastrophes to change the genes and forms of creatures?

And humanity has only lived for 1 million years. (So I've heard at least) We still got a biiiiig step until we get a "recognizable" change.

I think "humans" in the sense of a 'prototype' versions have been around for 6 million years - modern humans have been around for an estimated 100,000 years only, I thought.

 

[floppylobster]

This is not a flame thread.


Now that thats out of the way, it has been firmly established in texts and in history that change is evolution and change is evolution and that through evolution and adaptation and so forth that causes something to continue and survive, and there are examples of this throughout history. Humans evolve and adapt and we survive. This is an easy argument. What for the reverse?

What is an example of something that has stifled change and stagnated evolution and thus caused its destruction?




(((And Dont Say Capcom. Let Resident Evil speak for itself)))

Do be honest, from your description of evolution, I'm not sure you really grasp how it works, (perhaps you do but I'm only going from your description). Things do not adapt. They give the appearance of adaptation through the elimination of individuals, or the deslection of traits within individuals, that are not suited to the current environment. So to answer your question - everything that is not alive today is an example of something that has 'stifled change and stagnated evolution' and caused its destruction.

However if you're only talking within the subset of man-made objects (such as Resident Evil) - then most relationships stagnate and die by refusing to move forward with the changing nature of the individuals involved.

 

[Tharwen]

Humanity hasn't evolved since the moment we started using tools.

But that was *only* about 20000 years ago. We have evolved since then, just not enough to notice.

 

[Tiny116]

What is an example of something that has stifled change and stagnated evolution and thus caused its destruction?

Oft-repeated topics on internet forums springs to mind. Those topics tend to not 'evolve' much at all...

XD. However in the defense of repeated topics it gives fresh opinions and views to a subject which newer members haven't seen the topic yet. (I know there are rules and i'm not having a go, just offering a different perspective)

I don't think humans will evolve further than we have now. There are too many people surviving diseases and genetic illness. Brilliant for us, but a kick in the quad for evolution.

I disagree, just because people are surviving diseases and genetic illness does not mean evolution stops. Perhaps all the drugs and crap will influence our evolution. I don't doubt the evolution of different species of animals would have been different if we human scum hadn't stuck our oars in.

An example of human evolution is the appendix, a completely useless add on to the large bowel, now lots of people have it removed. But did you know that there are people who are born without it? Thats technically evolution. Nature realised we didn't need a appendix so she made it useless, now she is getting rid of it. However our survival rates means that the effect of "survival of the fittest" is slowed. Therefore most people still have an appendix.
...I hope that made some kind of sense XD

EDIT:

Something that stagnated evolution?

Us humans? I mean, by changing the world so that we can live in it, we've created a world where we don't really have to evolve. Sure, we probably will evolve sooner or later, but I think it sounds plausible that at the very least our evolution has been slowed down.

Or am I completely off the ball?

Now I could have given my expalnation a short simple answer like that....*hangs head*

 

[Lord Monocle Von Banworthy]

I think a lot of you are forgetting that "more fit" doesn't mean "survives, while the other dies." Yeah, people with a given fatal genetic disorder survive to have kids now when they might not have in the past, but it's not as simple as that. If ten of them go on to have only 19 children while ten people who lack that genetic disorder go on to have 22 children, the people who lack that disorder still have demonstrated more fitness than those who suffer from it. Evolution happens in the margins, in fractions of a percent, not in massive genocidal waves of disease and murder.

We're evolving as much as we ever did, but we didn't do so the way you're thinking even in the past.

 

[C_sector]

From my understanding, evolution is the gradual change in a populations' DNA. Through natural selection, only genes with benefits survive and are passed down to the next generation. If we were to let people die then we are slowly losing DNA variability which is crucial for evolution.

 

[dfphetteplace]

Humans are now controlling our future evolution, not stagnating it. Good or bad, we now have some control over where we are going as a species. If we do get to the point where we are exploring the universe, we may adapt our bodies to fit into new environments. Small colonies of differently modifies humans will be spread throughout the universe, which I am sure will eventually lead to whole new species with human as the common ancestor. Personally, I am not sure if this is a good or bad thing. It seems cool and I personally would love to explore in such a way, but that is a selfish way of looking at it. The rest of the universe may not want us, or may not be able to handle us. Look at the way way we treat our own planet, when we are moving from one to the next, I'm sure we will trash them all.
I do think that currently we are holding back evolution by saving too many lives of all ages and letting the dumb reproduce (it seems they are the only ones reproducing at times), but I don't think it is my place to dictate in some Machiavellian who gets to live or die (unless I'm working in triage on a MCI) or who gets to reproduce. So yeah, that is my two cents.

 

[Vondrakenhof]

The thing about human evolution is that we're still evolving. As a species, our thumbs are getting longer. Seriously. All because of games and mobile phones.

 

[alex1314159]

evolution is a process occurring over time, it's processes are not positive or negative, it simply occurs. There is no opposite of evolution, it is all encompassing. perhaps you are thinking of homoplasy or apomorphy.

 

[alex1314159]

The thing about human evolution is that we're still evolving. As a species, our thumbs are getting longer. Seriously. All because of games and mobile phones.

that's not an inherited characteristic

 

[Kiju]

There is such a thing as a pinnacle of evolution. Once we reach it (Which I think we have) we will stagnate, and die off in a matter of time. It might take thousands of years, but we will, unless we hit another metaphorical growth spurt.