question_answer 61)

  We are told that evolution is a continuing phenomenon for all living things. Are humans also evolving? Justify your answer.

Answer:

                  New research suggests that despite modern technology and industrialization, 'humans continue to evolve'. In the last 10,000 years or so, the pace of our evolution has speeded up 100 times creating more mutations in our genes and hence, greater natural selection. Some clues that show humans are evolving are (i) Lactose Tolerance Historically the gene that regulated human's ability to digest lactose was shut down as infants are weaned off of their mother's breast milk. However, adult human in regions of Africa and Northern Europe developed the ability to tolerate lactose in their diets as recent as 5,000 or 6,000 years ago due to mutations. (ii) Wisdom Teeth Our ancestors had much bigger jaws than we do to lactose their eating habits. Today our jaws are much smaller and wisdom teeth are often impacted estimates say that they will disappear in the coming population.