[FRIAM] semi-idle question

[Marcus Daniels]

Hack the germline.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/He_Jiankui_affair

On Apr 23, 2021, at 6:12 AM, Prof David West <profwest at fastmail.fm> wrote:

Can human beings evolve?

Was reading about Pepper Moths in England during the Industrial Revolution. (population genetics)

Population was white with dark spots and the occasional dark colored moth was easy prey.
Pollution killed lichen and caused the trees (moth's habitat) to be covered in soot, turning them dark.
Population of black moths went from 2% in 1848 to 95% by 1895.

Is is possible for humans to evolve in response to climate change in a similar way? more general prevalence of melanin, craving for spicy hot food?

Of course moths used many generations to achieve their change and their lifespan is a fraction of a humans, so extinction is more likely than adaptation. But, is it at least possible in principle?

davew

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