Technology's effect on evolution

[FallentoReason]

Hey, wait a minute!!! This example should have come to mind straight away because I work at a sport shoes store! Flat feet.

Our ancestors used to walk on softer types of ground. From sandy deserts to grassy plains, these surfaces didn't oppose the weight of their bodies so harshly. Now with unnatural, hard floor surfaces that we stand on almost 24/7 we have literally squashed those arches into what we now diagnose as flat feet.

Nobel prize, anyone?

EDIT: ohh... hang on...... :/

[Faith No More]

What are the causes of flat feet?

Family history - experts say fallen arches can run in families.

Weak arch - the arch of the foot may be there when no weight is placed on it, for example, when the person is sitting. But as soon as they stand up the foot flattens (falls) onto the ground.

Injury

Arthritis

Tibialis posterior (ruptured tendon)

Pregnancy

Nervous system or muscle diseases - such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or spina bifida.

Tarsal Coalition - the bones of the foot fuse together in an unusual way, resulting in stiff and flat feet. Most commonly diagnosed during childhood.

Diabetes

Age and wear and tear - years of using your feet to walk, run, and jump eventually may take its toll. One of the eventual consequences could be fallen arches. The posterior tibial tendon may become weakened after long-term wear a tear. The postario tibial tendon is the main support structure of the arch of our feet. The tendon can become inflamed (tendinitis) after overuse - sometimes it can even become torn. Once the tendon is damaged, the arch shape of the foot may flatten.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/168608.php

My dad had flat feet when he was drafted into the Vietnam War, and those feet were the exact reason he wasn't allowed to go. They would have had to make special boots for him, and they couldn't do that. Hooray for flat feet!