On February 12, 1809, Charles Darwin was born, the British naturalist who completely changed our vision of life, based until then on divine creation. 200 years ago nothing was known about the origin of the first living organisms and how they had laid the foundations for the exuberant biological wealth of our planet. Charles Darwin postulated that all species of living things have evolved over time from a common ancestor through a process called natural selection. Natural selection is based on the fact that certain organisms present hereditary variations that enable them to live longer and leave more offspring than others, so that in the long term, generation after generation, there is an accumulation of favorable characteristics that improves the adaptation of the species to its surroundings.
There is some controversy in the scientific community about whether the human being continues to evolve, and therefore, undergoing changes in its genome that make it unrecognizable in a matter of centuries. Some researchers are convinced that natural selection has stopped affecting humanity thanks to technological advances, which allow, for example, the genetic manipulation of the zygote. However, most suggest that man continues in constant evolution and that natural and sexual selections are still in force in our species, since we have not reached at all the maximum degree of adaptation to the environment, which is increasingly changing, precisely due to , to said technological development.
These are some of the changes experienced by humans during the last thousands of years and that would show that we are still subject to evolution:
Less intelligent: According to a study by the University of Umea (Sweden), human beings have seen their IQ reduced in recent decades due to the fact that more intelligent people choose to have fewer children, while people with less favorable genes increase their offspring.
Smaller brains: The latest measurements reveal that the average volume of the human brain has decreased by 10% in the last 30,000 years, that is, the equivalent of a tennis ball. According to experts, this reduction in the brain is explained by the fact that we have developed more sophisticated forms of intelligence and we depend to a lesser extent on the gray matter that controls our body to survive.
Best musicians: According to various studies, musical ability is an index of good learning abilities or fine motor skills, which would explain the greater reproductive success of those who practice it. On the other hand, man has developed an innate predisposition to dance since birth, also considered an indicator of social skills and communication skills.
Monogamous: A study from the University of British Columbia (Canada), stated that communities that allow men to have multiple wives develop a higher rate of violence, poverty and gender inequalities, while monogamy reduces male competitiveness, thus decreasing associated social problems and ensuring greater longevity.
Better cooks: Cooked meat provides more energy than raw meat, as demonstrated by a team of researchers from Harvard University (USA). This finding suggests that humans are biologically adapted to reap the benefits of cooked foods.
Liars: Some researchers suggest that knowing how to lie is an evolutionary advantage, since conflicts of interest cause in nature to favor individuals who suppress or misrepresent information.
More readers: According to research carried out by American researchers Jonathan Gottschall and Joseph Carroll, the literature favors social behaviors that fulfill an adaptive function and encourages us to combat basic impulses and work cooperatively.
