Thread: Leading geneticist Steve Jones says human evolution is over

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Or not I am afraid. Most of the introduction of genetic change comes during recombination events during fertilization - like re-throwing the dice I suppose (the old meiotic recombination for those whose biology is still with them). The increasing population, and the increasing nearness of that population make individuals who would not previoulsy have mated (due to physical separation) able to mate, and this increases genetic variation, rather than decreasing it. Add on top of that the increase in environmental mutagens (100 years ago there was not a single molecule of plutonium on earth - now we all have a small reminder of atomic testing!) which will cause increased genetic mutation. Think the guy needs a new job.

depends on which mechanism of evolution one ascribes to, punctuated equilibrium or gradual random change...

Originally Posted by kingwilly

depends on which mechanism of evolution one ascribes to, punctuated equilibrium or gradual random change...

Both my friend. Both.