The 3 Conditions

[danjamjoh]

Hello there I don't believe that the human race will be alive for the next ice age. The next ice age is more than 15 000 years away according to evidence from an Antarctic ice core the deepest and oldest ever extracted. The core gives us a 740,000-year record of the planet's climate, including the past eight ice ages, and interglacials, the periods in between. Basically in the next 15000 years I believe something along these lines will happen: There is life on earth because of an accident. This accident is caused by what we call the 3 conditions:- 1. Things have to make copies of themselves (through birth or other ways), this is called Replication 2. They have to make small mistakes when they replicate, this is called Mutation 3. These mistakes have to be the same in their copies, this is called Heritability Basically, these conditions are very rare, but they are possible and they cause life. I believe that these conditions, as rare as they are, will afflict mankind in the next 15000 years. It sounds rather science-fiction, but it can, and has, happened. If this does afflict humans, whats not to say that the mutated man will mate. The mutation area could afflict sexual organs, meaning a single creature could mate with itself. This would mean that only one mutated human would be needed. This is why I personally dont believe that the human race will be alive for the next ice age. However I DO believe that another, more adapt form of makind will be alive for it. Or maybe an even less adapted creature.

[Merlin38]

If a person mutates, aren't they still human? What's to say that science will not produce a way to prevent harmful mutation? We are already having success in that area. Even if a race needs 'only one munated human', how does that mean that the entire race would perish? I disagree with your arguments, on the simple basis that they don't really have a logical basis. Could you elaborate on your stance?

[Dynamo]

if a person mutates enough, chances are they may not be in the same species. They would probably be in the same genus, family, or order however. I do believe, however, that if we don't kill ourselves with nuclear weapons by then that scientists will find a way to protect the human race.

[Talon]

I am confuzzled. Isn't all that in a sense, evolution? In biology, evolution is the change in the inherited characteristics, or traits, of a population of organisms. Heritable traits are encoded in the genetic material of an organism (usually DNA); changes in this genetic material (mutation) and the subsequent spread of these changes in the population drives evolution. Wikipedia: Evolution [/b]

[Dynamo]

yup, pretty much. however in cases such as ice ages, some species can't adapt fast enough, thus being killed out. since we are able to survive due to technology (or will be able to), evolution may not be necessary (but might occur anyways).

[Merlin38]

Can anyone think of an example in which longstanding (more than an isolated case) mutations (outside the catagories of viral, bacterial, and radiation) have negatively effected mankind?

[malte332g]

Can anyone think of an example in which longstanding (more than an isolated case) mutations (outside the catagories of viral, bacterial, and radiation) have negatively effected mankind? [/b] We have probably become weaker (physically) throughout the ages. But thats just "evolution" I guess, because we dont use our bodies to hunt and gather food anymore. Lazyness is the greatest inventor, right? Sure, you can eat a lot of protein powder and steroids and buckle up, but thats unnatural. Think of all the "bad genes" that lives on thanks to science and healthcare. Darwin can kiss his theory goodbye, todays motto is more like "Survival of the fattest". Or at least it will be in a near future. Our bodies become weaker and our minds grow stronger, perhaps we wont need an organic body later on.

[Merlin38]

'Fitness' may not apply in a physical sense. In a business, the most intelligent managers will come out on top. Our current environment is one that can make better use of intelligence, so we use it more. I see our physical (for lack of a better word) decline as an exchange between matter and mind. I'm not sure how we would cease to exist organically, unless you were reffering to androids of some sort.

[malte332g]

I'm not sure how we would cease to exist organically, unless you were reffering to androids of some sort. [/b] Maybe I was. I saw a documentary film a few days ago called "man version 2.0". It was about artificial intelligence and how humans eventually transplanting their brain into, say an android, and some quantumphysics as well. Very strange you know the feeling Imagine sciences accelerating developments, and how its constantly goes faster and faster towards some strange dystopia that everyone has its own version of, at least the sceptical part of us Remember that timelinedevelopmenttimelinelecture in "Waking Life"? I cant really say right now, because I am very stoned, and Im having trouble thinking these El gigantico thoughts and typing this at the same time. I may drop by later and give you a clearerish argument later on. Im not promising anything though. :yumdumdoodledum:

[Merlin38]

I look forward to your lucidity.

[malte332g]

I look forward to your lucidity. [/b] So do I

[The Cusp]

Every living creature on this planet has a natural rate of genetic mutation, but humans have the lowest mutation rate of all. Compared to any other animal, it's actually a very tiny mutation rate. I'd be less worrid about mankind mutating, and more concerned with other animals catching up to us. Especially those damned dirty apes!

[Chaos]

Who knows? We may not even have to worry about mutation. There are some scientists that will argue that the next ice age will occur w/in the next 100 years b/c of global warming. But really, w/ all of the problems this world is facing, I don't think we'll live long enough to witness the next ice age even if it is only 1000 years away! I think the world is going to end some other way. Here are just a few possibilities. >Global warming will melt the ice caps causing the earth to flood >3rd World War/ Nuclear holocaust >Some random plaque will either emerge or return and the gov't will not be ready for it >Atrophis (its not completely impossible, just highly unlikely) >Eruption of Yellow Stone National Park (if it erupts, it is supposed to put us into a Nuclear Winter, which probably counts as an ice age)

[Merlin38]

Scientists have put the highest estimate of sea level fluctuation at an increase of 24 inches due to possible ice cap melting. Nations with nukes are well aware of the possibilites of nuclear war, and take every effort to prevent it. Everyone thought the bird flu was going to kill everyone, but that was averted. Atrophy is a condition that doesn't occur on a societle level. I recall my visit to Yellowstone correctly, eruption won't happen in a couple thousand years.

[Chaos]

>Atrophis (its not completely impossible, just highly unlikely) color][/b] Atrophy is a condition that doesn't occur on a societle level.[/b] [color="#9932CC"]Sorry, I misspelled it. Its called Apophis, and its an asteroid. Though the chances of it hitting Earth are very slim. Either way, I sincerely think that the human race is going to end up killing itself off.

[Merlin38]

I sincerely hope that you are wrong. Thanks for clearing up the misunderstanding with the asteroid.

[Flotsam]

there is no purpose for humans to evolve in the traditional sense because if you look at it, humans are constantly evolving and mutating with every invention and new thought with the halting of our physical mutations i think that we may even be over compensating with the altering of the world around us

[CymekSniper]

A lot of things can happen in 15,000 years. A lot can happen in 100 years. I estimate, if there is a way, that we will launch ourselves into space in 300 years. The final frontier awaits us.

[SillyRabbit]

A lot of things can happen in 15,000 years. A lot can happen in 100 years. I estimate, if there is a way, that we will launch ourselves into space in 300 years. The final frontier awaits us.[/b] dude technology evolves like amazingly fast we will be on mars in my life time im 16.