OP, I think your hypothesis is absurd. I could not access the National Geographic article, but I read the Science Daily one on the same thing. The hypotheses presented in the article were much better. You fail to grasp how evolution occurs: "Now as a response to gravity disturbances you are developing a larger head." You seem to be suggesting that these "gravity disturbances" are so large (when they are in fact microscopic) that it is affecting the rate of survival of the human species such that rate of survival increases with increased skull volume.
Brain-eating aliens have begun their genetic modification of their human brain crop. Bigger brains = more eating. Basically, it will address the disparity between exploding alien brain-eating population and the supply of (size of) human brains available for consumption. Supply and demand, really.
Yes it is my proposal. It might be. What flaws do you find in it?
That has no affect on human suitability. Natural selection doesn't occur very much in human populations except in instances such as the hetergenous sickle-cell anemia trait developing in humans to prevent malaria.
You're under the same flawed assumption that people are who think our brains are growing larger through natural selection.
Brain eating aliens could be a good thing if they prefer brains that have never been used.
That has no affect on human suitability. Natural selection doesn't occur very much in human populations except in instances such as the hetergenous sickle-cell anemia trait developing in humans to prevent malaria.
Are you saying that evolution has stopped for humans?
No. Evolution can still happen by genetic drift, founder effect, and chromosomal mixing. It can also happen by natural selection in instances such as the sickle-cell trait heterogenous trait being favored in Africans to protect them from malaria. You seem to have no concept of what natural selection is, though. In order for natural selection to happen, humans with favored alleles would have to have increased survival rates such that they survive more often and reproduce, and those without the alleles die off. Natural selection can't just make humans more intelligent over time because intelligence benefits us.
Now as a response to gravity disturbances you are developing a larger head.
Natural selection also takes place when certain traits lead to increased reproduction.
so, intelligence may not necessarily be a selected trait. In fact, well, ever see the movie "Idiocracy"?
Developing a larger head would not lead to increased reproduction, and that has nothing to do with the OP's claim. What you wrote is entirely irrelevant.
Cats have around 160 million more neurons than dogs.
Why can't they be trained as easily ?
From the look my cat gives me when I tell her to get off the couch or go outside I can surmise she's thinking " yea sure, when I damn well please ".
Natural selection can't just make humans more intelligent over time because intelligence benefits us.
why would an organsim respond to increased gravity by developing a larger (ie more mass to hold up) head? and wouldn't increased gravity also lead to a decrease in height? The average height for a male in the US is only slightly lower than that of Europeans (and it would be the same or higher if it were not for all the 5'7" hispanics lowering the average)
Has anyone considered that we are doing more cesarean sections.
Babies whose heads were too big, did not survive.
Why has the USA's cesarean section rate climbed so high? - USATODAY.com
So why is intelligence increasing by each generation due to the Flynn effect nevertheless then?
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3045300836.html
Also, do not address me at all while debating this issue. Ever heard of "ad hominem" fallacy in a debate?
Stick to the issues and leave personal comments aside. There is a Basement for those after all.
I am thinking in most parts of the world, Doctors will do a cesarean when absolutely necessary,Interesting approach Longview. But how were we left with North Americans with greater heads then? Are you suggesting that babies with even larger heads did not survive than this?
No one knows, but evolution isn't one of them.
Flynn effect - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Do you concede your initial theory now?
I am thinking in most parts of the world, Doctors will do a cesarean when absolutely necessary,
Whereas in the US they will do one because they don't want to miss their golf tee time, and it pays better anyway.
But mine is really just a guess as to what might throw off the statistics.
I am not studying this issue so as to answer it with full support of findings. We are debating possibilities here and criticizing each others statements.
But what I was thinking out of the blue is that perhaps as former Europeans you would tend to grow taller. But since gravity pulls you down more then it would force one part of the head to grow taller and the other part to be pulled down more. The in between area would be then filled in with bone and there you are.
We are exploring at this moment. Hence I am growing averse to Ethan's approach into a debate. He is kinda taking it personally with me (i.e., whether I know concepts well enough or not) rather than the issue.
Perhaps "adaptation" should have been a more proper word. My proposal holds but instead of "evolution" it should be "adaptation" then.
Interesting approach Longview. But how were we left with North Americans with greater heads then? Are you suggesting that babies with even larger heads did not survive than this?
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