I have been wondering if humans will create its next stage in evolution, indeed if all life on the earth will be replaced by forms of life we have created or modified.
When humans change dramatically there may be more useful kinds of life-forms for us to make utility of for our needs. Certainly parasites, germs, viruses, fungi etc are a bit of a nuisance, even vegetation may not provide what we need at least as efficiently as something else we may develop.
Even though most evolutionary things like trees etc are finely tuned, they may not be the ultimate fuel providers. We may not want to kill animals and so we’d want something which produces the energy etc that we need without the negative ethic [-if I may].
A world creation machine
So, an artificial world is our probably future? Maybe artificial worlds! Why not make worlds from artificial diamond as complete working sometimes living/conscious machines, multilayered in a series of layered spheres with differing environments and ‘natural’ lighting.
We could gradually colonise the galaxy with worlds and transformed natural [formerly] worlds.
Though if such beings visited us to do something like that we’d probably want to fight them .
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So organisms always contribute to their own evolution, yet can never completely control all aspects of their evolution. The same will always be true for our species.
The only thing that changes is the extent to which we have control over our environment and our biology – it’s never going to be 100% (that seems impossible to me).
You seem to be behind the times in thinking that such isn’t already well underway.
What is going to disturb you even more is when you discover who has been doing it, why, and to what end.
They are going to be a bit surprised as well.
Perhaps we will stick to genetic form [once modified is not evolutionary I‘d think?], though I don’t see why that’s obligatory, why not replace the whole thing with an immortal form? …genes can be made immortal though [like cancers, lobsters etc]. I don’t see why it wont indeed be 100% even if it moves in stages towards that.
I’d think its plausible that we could create an entirely new form even if that’s organic [an artificial genome].
Well I do think its underway at least in terms of research and materials. Who’s been doing it and to what end?
Why are they going to be surprised ~ this bit of your post surprises me most.
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I’m not clear on what you mean. Even genetic modification is part of evolution - everything we do plays its part in the evolutionary process.
Also, I have no idea in what sense cancers and lobster would be immortal…
Edit: I guess you’re talking about the length of time they have inhabited earth. While that is not an insignificant consideration, it doesn’t mean they have an immortal form, they may go extinct yet; for instance humans may destroy earth for all living things. Their long evolutionary history merely indicates that they have so far, as a species, met the requirements for survival on earth.
Quetz, I don’t understand your thread title, exactly. I think genetics can alter some things–genes, for example–but not genomes, per se. (Although 3 rhesus macaques have been born, recently, with the genomes from six different parents. And mice have been genetically altered in much the same way, for years.)
Would humans with altered genomes be able to reproduce? A mule has a high probability of being sterile (although on very rare occasions, it’s been shown to be fertile.) Evolution means reproduction, doesn’t it?
I can see genetic alteration used to remove a mutated gene that causes known genetic abnormalities–but does that guarantee off-spring that don’t carry the same or a similar gene?
Too much has yet to be learned in studying the human genome. But I don’t think the results of research will result in artificial evolution.
I would have thought genetic modification to be artificial, though I suppose we are reacting to our environment ~ but there is a different between us doing it and nature doing it. In the latter an individual can change what they are.
What happens when we achieve the perfect form - let us say, what can we evolve into after that?
So I have been informed they can keep growing and rebuilding themselves, they just don’t live so long because they get eaten of in the case of cancers get destroyed when they kill what they inhabit e.g. a person dies].
I’d think that eventually we could alter entire genomes and even make different kinds of building blocks e.g. on star trek a species had a triple helix.
At least that eventually all will be known, its just a matter of time. Then it’s a matter of future super computers and sophisticated instrumentation.
A matter of knowing what causes the mule to not reproduce ~ and changing it.
Sure, but would you think it impossible to achieve off-spring without abnormalities? Again surely this is a matter of time and knowledge only.
Agreed that a hell of a lot needs to be learned. As to the latter, either we will not dabble with such things [unlikely I’d say] or artificial evolution is an inevitable consequence of knowledge and ability.
I’m not sure if I want what could happen, I think many aspects of all this are something of an abomination spiritually ~ I am quite happy with transmigration, so not too bothered about having an immortal form.
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