RE: Memetic Influence on Evolution

From: Steve Drew (sd014a6399@blueyonder.co.uk)
Date: Wed May 15 2002 - 16:55:28 BST

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Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 16:55:28 +0100
Subject: RE: Memetic Influence on Evolution
From: Steve Drew <sd014a6399@blueyonder.co.uk>
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    Hi Lawrence,

    > Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 18:23:39 -0400
    > From: "Lawrence DeBivort" <debivort@umd5.umd.edu>
    > Subject: RE: Memetic Influence on Evolution
    >
    > Greetings, all,
    >
    > If it is unclear today to what extent memes influence biological evolution,
    > the answer will become increasingly clear in the coming years and decades,
    > not longer. One of the salient characteristics of our age is evolutionary
    > development -- our growing ability to manage our own evolution, and we do so
    > in all instances through our initial exchange of memes, and the emergence of
    > some over others.
    >
    > Steve, can you explain a bit more what you mean by 'coarser'? Thanks.
    >
    > Lawrence

    Memes do have some influence on our evolution which was the coarser bit I
    referred to. We can select for sex early enough to decide whether to
    terminate or not (its is banned in my health authority), or for Down's
    children.

    Sex selection has already distorted the ratio of male to female in the
    younger generation in China, resulting in a distinct 'surplus' of males. How
    this will translate in social terms is any ones guess. Carried to it's
    illogical conclusion, we could easily choose our self out of existance :-)

    However, in general, these effects, if any, on human evolution would take
    far longer than our life span to manifest.

    Regards

    Steve

      

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