Homo sapiens sapiens: What makes us human?
Due December 14
Typed, double-spaced, stapled, and with pages numbered
Length is flexible, but aim for 4-6 pages.
How might the cultures we create be changing the direction of
Evolutionary scientists have only recently realized that human
evolution has not ceased, but continues. The question, then, is "To what
extent are we ourselves creating the conditions for our own evolution?"
This paper asks you to set your mind to this intriguing question.
Please describe one feature or element of modern human culture that
you suspect is changing the direction of human biological evolution. This
change in direction would occur only by shifting the distribution of
genetic descendents over successive generations. That is, this shift can
occur only when there is a change in who is most likely to survive
into and through reproductive age and produce the most (surviving)
- Identify one such cultural engine that is potentially redirecting
human evolution. Be specific: describe a particular feature (specific
sorts of laws, technologies, social practices, etc.). It can be taken from
American culture but should not be exclusive to it.
- Explain how this engine might work (what is called the "selection
walk"). Is it perhaps changing who is likely to survive into and through
the reproductive years? How so? Or, is it perhaps changing who has the
highest reproduction rates (most surviving children)? How so?
To repeat, this topic is meant to have you think about the co-evolution
our species and its culture-and thus how humans themselves might be slowly
but fundamentally changing what it means to be human.
Absolutely crucial advice
- Keep in mind that evolution can occur only when
differences in rates of
survival and reproduction within a population for people with and without
that attribute, or who have more vs. less of it. The differences in rates of survival
and reproduction need not be large, say,
0.01% for people with lots of the trait vs. those with little, in order to have an
enormous effect over many generations. The steeper the
differences in rates of
birth and death, the
fewer generations are required to
produce the same amount of change in the species.
- Also keep in mind that you need enough people
trait in question for the engine have any effect on the species,
no matter how large a tilt it creates for the affected people.
For example, your cultural engine cannot drive evolution
if it tilts the odds for only a handful of people in a
- Writing is clear, organized, stays on topic, and does not
drift into irrelevancies--paper is focused.
- Paragraphs make a clear point and follow logically to build a argument.
- Words and sentences have “meat” and meaning (not empty or
- Paper identifies and describes one potential cultural engine
that may be driving human evolution today.
- Paper provides a mechanism for how it would actually
do so--that is, specifies how it may be shifting the odds for who
survives and produces the most children.
- Reread the assignment one more time after you have finished
your paper. Did you answer all parts of the question? Did you number your