Are We Still Evolving?

Our species has yet to reach the peak of its evolutionary development, a new study has found.

17:35 12 July 2016

Researchers from Harvard University have presented evidence showing that the natural forces of evolution continue to shape humanity despite us having big brains and advanced technology that can manipulate the world around us.

 

The study, which challenges previous research that suggested humans ceased to evolve around 40,000 years ago, analysed links between relative lifetime reproductive success (rLRS) and gene variants previously tied to a handful of traits through genetic studies.

 

The study focused on people in the US of European descent who were born between 1931 and 1953. The participants are enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study, which tracks the health of around 20,000 Americans over the age of 50.

 

The results showed that there was a negative association between the rLRS and the level of education reached – so the more educated people are the fewer offspring they have.

 

In his paper, Dr Jonathan Beauchamp, who led the study, wrote: 'Although they cannot be projected over more than one generation, my results provide additional evidence that humans are still evolving - albeit slowly, especially compared with the rapid changes that have occurred over the past few generations due to cultural and environmental factors.'