The split of the human species
A genetic study by the Genographic Project suggests that the human species split in two about 150,000 years ago. It’s uncertain why but one guess is that “arid conditions” between eastern and southern Africa separated the populations for perhaps as much as 100, 000 years. This means that there may have been two species up until as relatively recently as 40, 000 years ago.
We don’t know how long it takes for hominids to fission off into separate species, but clearly they were separated for a very long time, says Dr Spencer Wells, director of the Genographic Project.
I wonder what would happen if there was a split today. Some scientists, like Lee Silver insists that it will eventually happen through different forms of reproduction technologies. Those who can afford it will give their kids the new enhanced gene variants that make them smarter, while the rest will remain more or less as we are today. Poor sods.
Another scenario is that it will happen much faster because some mad scientist like Panos Zavos will set out to split the species to achieve herostratic immortality. And if he succeded, what would The Others be like? Would they see us as their enemies? Would they lurk in the shadows while secretly aspire for world domination? Now there is an idea for a sci-fi/thriller…
Filed under: Anthropology, Biology, Science, genetics | 4 Comments
Tags: Genographic Project, Homo Sapien, Lee Silver, Panos Zavos
We are seen this in the classic novel, “The Time Machine”. It’s a good read.
I guess it’s all been done before, at least in fiction. I wonder if they’re related, Spencer Wells and old H G?
I wouldn’t worry too much about Panos Zavos, all of his experiments and announcements have been proven time and time again to be shameless and unapologetic publicity stunts and totally unrepeatable. Heck, look at his picture on his website, he oozes “full of crap”
Thats not to say there aren’t some other psychopaths out there trying something similar.
You never know what the Chinese are up to ; )