Homo evolutis

[T.J.]

Being able to control our own evolutionary future is definitely enticing. This is the first time I've heard of the term, so I don't have too much of an opinion as of now. I agree with Rhyhtm's reasoning that becoming a new species would happen when we figure out how.

[RozKek]

What I'm afraid of is when we accomplish genome editing; eradicating diseases, making all babies, stronger, smarter and more intelligent by removing bad genes and only leaving good genes, diversity will decrease and people will become way too alike. If that happens and continues at the end we'll all be very similiar and we'll essentially become robots with our only purpose being self replication and thriving on. It feels as if life would become bland, but of course I'm all up for editing ones genetics to avoid down syndrome, cancer, diseases etc but in a complicated way I'd like it if we didn't allow adding good genes or at least not too much to keep diversity alive i.e removing the bad genes and leave the rest remaining without adding any superior genes. I hope you get what I'm trying to say.

[The Grand Nudger]

It's difficult to argue that we're not -already- robots whose only purpose is self replication.  Perhaps that's why we strive so hard to create purpose in our lives (real or imagined)...to escape that darkening sense of what we may be, beyond our pretensions of deeper, intangible grandeur?



Also, I like kittens.

[Angrboda]

For it to be evolution the changes would have to be introduced into the germ line. I think the ethical implications of that will likely keep it from happening for some time to come.

What is CISPR?

[Minimalist]

I think humans stopped "evolving" in the natural selection sense when "culture" and "group identity" came along.  Sick or injured members of the group were cared for and some percentage may have survived to reproduce.

[RozKek]

It's difficult to argue that we're not -already- robots whose only purpose is self replication.  Perhaps that's why we strive so hard to create purpose in our lives (real or imagined)...to escape that darkening sense of what we may be, beyond our pretensions of deeper, intangible grandeur?



Also, I like kittens.

That's not my point. My point is the lack of diversity and such it would cause. Life would be bland. Not only that, but right now, at least for me, what makes my life worth living and fun isn't my "purpose" of making babies but it's my different and irrational decisions that make it fun. For a small example: drinking unhealthy coke over water when eating food etc, i.e going for desires and such. If we genetically modify babies to eat healthy, make smart and good decisions only, be logical and rational then life will become bland and less diverse, and that, I dislike. I don't know if this is just difficult to phrase or if I make no sense.

[The Grand Nudger]

We're already very homogenous.  A brother and sister chimps are likely to have less in common than you do with a man from china.  If you worry that the reduction of disease will be the death of culture..I think that;s probably an unfounded fear.  We've been doing that for awhile and it doesn't seem to have that effect.

You like our differences.  I think we'll continue to have them...genetic engineering could produce even -greater- differences.  Though I suppose that there's always the risk that we'll churn out uninspiring economy model people, for the most part...like we do with cars.  People make those their own in any case, adding all kinds of "personality".

I love our mistakes too btw...I have at least 4 of them. 

[CapnAwesome]

Of course we are evolving towards being a new species. Everything is.

[CapnAwesome]

I think humans stopped "evolving" in the natural selection sense when "culture" and "group identity" came along.  Sick or injured members of the group were cared for and some percentage may have survived to reproduce.

Well people think evolution is about 'survival of the fittest' but that's a misnomer really. It's just about selective gene's being passed on more often then others. I'm certain that this is happening with humans. There are definitely genes that lead to more breeding then others amoungst humans today. In fact I'd be surprised if our gene's weren't changing faster then in the past.

[chimp3]

Thanks for the replies. I do agree with you all. I came across the homo evolutis idea while reading about transhumanism. The main criticism I had about it was the lack of isolation of any human genetic line. Actually we are all co-mingling our genes now as never before. It was an interesting thought.