Ongoing Human Evolution Could Explain Recent Rise in Certain Disorders

[Liffrea]

The subtle but ongoing pressures of human evolution could explain the seeming rise of disorders such as autism, autoimmune diseases, and reproductive cancers, researchers write in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Certain adaptations that once benefited humans may now be helping such ailments persist in spite of -- or perhaps because of -- advancements in modern culture and medicine.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100111102538.htm

[Lenny]

The subtle but ongoing pressures of human evolution could explain the seeming rise of disorders such as autism, autoimmune diseases, and reproductive cancers...Certain adaptations that once benefited humans may now be helping such ailments persist in spite of -- or perhaps because of -- advancements in modern culture and medicine.
Wait a minute - 'Evolution' is not some entity out there that exerts pressure on things. It is simply the word we have for changes in a genepool driven by differential rates of reproductive success.

For an increase in disorders to be based on "evolution", there must be a difference in reproductive success behind it. Otherwise this is just a bunch of high-sounding hokum.

How exactly are people with the genes for these disorders having more reproductive success today?

[Fortis in Arduis]

Wait a minute - 'Evolution' is not some entity out there that exerts pressure on things. It is simply the word we have for changes in a genepool driven by differential rates of reproductive success.

For an increase in disorders to be based on "evolution", there must be a difference in reproductive success behind it. Otherwise this is just a bunch of high-sounding hokum.

How exactly are people with the genes for these disorders having more reproductive success today?

When the genes are partially expressed they give evolutionary advantage.

[Lenny]

When the genes are partially expressed they give evolutionary advantage.
Ok, but my issue is how exactly these genes have been selected for in the past few generations. So as to cause a rise in autism, etc.

The article title boasts a major thesis: Natural selection is still at work, and is causing autism! But what proof is there? You are talking about why genetic-disorders exist at all in populations, I am talking about the claimed "evolution has caused the recent increase" notion.

I do see some selection going on, but it is mostly just generalized dysgenics. See here (http://images.google.com/images?hl=&q=nadya+suleman) and here (http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6043/greecedysgenics.png).

[Fortis in Arduis]

Ok, but my issue is how exactly these genes have been selected for in the past few generations. So as to cause a rise in autism, etc.

The article title boasts a major thesis: Natural selection is still at work, and is causing autism! But what proof is there? You are talking about why genetic-disorders exist at all in populations, I am talking about the claimed "evolution has caused the recent increase" notion.

I do see some selection going on, but it is mostly just generalized dysgenics. See here (http://images.google.com/images?hl=&q=nadya+suleman) and here (http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6043/greecedysgenics.png).

I think that we are looking at dysgenic trends, but that is according to the times.

I speak as an mildly autistic person. I know that my traits when expressed fully are very tragic, but when expressed mildly, they give the advantage for personal survival; the ability to think beyond group dynamics and to disregard social norms in a way which frees the mind to think outside the box.

Autism is most prevalent in Northern Finland. Our traits include. the ability to disregard extreme cold. For example, I can wear sandals in deep winter, so long as I am wearing a scarf and hat. I do not feel the cold until it affects my body.

These are adaptations for the North. We hardly even know the significance of these differences, because the research is skewed towards the social, rather than the socio-environmental, but I believe that our genetics have produced the genius and innovations which characterises the European.

There must be countless other adaptations which are coming to the fore, because of our newly-comfortable lifestyles.

I do not have the swarming instinct, and so I become an outsider. Yet, my personal world, is so vast.

[Cato]

Evolution to me means...

http://media1.break.com/dnet/media/2008/12/83%20Fatty%20Fatty%20Bo%20Batty.jpg

Ma I wanna nother cheese pizza *BURPFART*!!!

<Eons later>

http://devan1.tripod.com/Pics/Jabba.jpg

Soloooo HOHOHOHOHO!