Evolution, the Human Way

Most of the topics covered in biology class this week were regarding the diversity in photosynthesis. Over time different plants have adapted to their environment, evolved, modified and tweaked their mechanism of photosynthesis, to make it more efficient. Hence they used their resources better, produced more energy, and survived longer. However all these evolutionary changes occurs within the organism. As plants are non-cognitive organisms, they did not change their environment in order to prolong their survival, but the evolution happened within them. The fittest plants survived longer, reproduced and finally took over the specific environment and completed a cycle of evolution.
The case is somewhat different for humans. We too have many times gone under evolution, developed new mechanisms, gained and lost some functionality; survived longer and reproduced and took over and finished a cycle of evolution. However we have taken a new direction over the past century or so. We have invented powerful tools to overcome our shortcomings. If our eyesight was week, we invented glasses, contact lenses, or surgeries to solve that problem. If we lost our hands, we made artificial ones. If our heart couldn’t support us anymore, we implanted a pacemaker to make it work. If we were weak to fight off other healthier and stronger humans, we invented guns to overcome. So what happens when “the fittest” doesn’t exactly survive? What happens when we progress by new and unnatural methods? What happens when humans inferior gene do get a chance to be passed on to new generations? Is human evolution coming to a halt?
Evolution like we have known it, yes. But human evolution is not coming to a halt. We have become advanced enough that in the very near future we may be able to genetically engineer our babies to give them the best characteristics possible, to make them the fittest, to create “super-humans.” So we are evolving, only in an odd way and with a very fast pace. Perhaps one could argue that human evolution is now going on with focus on human brain rather than any other body parts. Hence each generation is mentally more powerful than the last.

Snowfall :)

It is gorgeous outside. Watching a snowfall always puts me in a peaceful mood. It also makes me want to sit by a window, sip a hot drink and write! Recently I have been craving to write. Since I remember I have always despised writing. Obviously some things have changed, and perhaps taking mostly all science classes for two years has something to do with it.

I finally started a blog! However this blog, unlike most common blogs, will not be merely a place to rant, ramble, and vent off. I shall be posting well constructed short essays about whatever inspires me, may it be a political news, a scientific discovery, an observation, etc. I welcome and appreciate your comments on the syntax, grammar, the style of writing, and of course the subject matter.

Peace.