and guess which one the majority of singaporeans are going to
be:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6057734.stm
Humanity may split into two sub-species in 100,000 years' time as
predicted by HG Wells, an expert has said.
Evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry of the London School of
Economics expects a genetic upper class and a dim-witted underclass
to emerge.
The human race would peak in the year 3000, he said - before a
decline due to dependence on technology.
People would become choosier about their sexual partners, causing
humanity to divide into sub-species, he added.
The descendants of the genetic upper class would be tall, slim,
healthy, attractive, intelligent, and creative and a far cry from
the "underclass" humans who would have evolved into dim-witted,
ugly, squat goblin-like creatures.
Race 'ironed out'
But in the nearer future, humans will evolve in 1,000 years into
giants between 6ft and 7ft tall, he predicts, while life-spans will
have extended to 120 years, Dr Curry claims.
Physical appearance, driven by indicators of health, youth and
fertility, will improve, he says, while men will exhibit
symmetrical facial features, look athletic, and have squarer jaws,
deeper voices and bigger penises.
Women, on the other hand, will develop lighter, smooth, hairless
skin, large clear eyes, pert breasts, glossy hair, and even
features, he adds. Racial differences will be ironed out by
interbreeding, producing a uniform race of coffee-coloured
people.
However, Dr Curry warns, in 10,000 years time humans may have paid
a genetic price for relying on technology.
Spoiled by gadgets designed to meet their every need, they could
come to resemble domesticated animals.
Receding chins
Social skills, such as communicating and interacting with others,
could be lost, along with emotions such as love, sympathy, trust
and respect. People would become less able to care for others, or
perform in teams.
Physically, they would start to appear more juvenile. Chins would
recede, as a result of having to chew less on processed food.
There could also be health problems caused by reliance on medicine,
resulting in weak immune systems. Preventing deaths would also help
to preserve the genetic defects that cause cancer.
Further into the future, sexual selection - being choosy about
one's partner - was likely to create more and more genetic
inequality, said Dr Curry.
The logical outcome would be two sub-species, "gracile" and
"robust" humans similar to the Eloi and Morlocks foretold by HG
Wells in his 1895 novel The Time Machine.
"While science and technology have the potential to create an ideal
habitat for humanity over the next millennium, there is a
possibility of a monumental genetic hangover over the subsequent
millennia due to an over-reliance on technology reducing our
natural capacity to resist disease, or our evolved ability to get
along with each other, said Dr Curry.
He carried out the report for men's satellite TV channel Bravo.
