... study shows new global evidence of the role of humans, urbanization in rapid evolution

[OKIsItJustMe]

https://www.washington.edu/news/2017/01/03/university-of-washington-led-study-shows-new-global-evidence-of-the-role-of-humans-urbanization-in-rapid-evolution/

[font face=Serif]January 3, 2017

[font size=5]University of Washington-led study shows new global evidence of the role of humans, urbanization in rapid evolution[/font]

Peter Kelley
News and Information

[font size=3]It has long been suspected that humans and the urban areas we create are having an important — and surprisingly current and ongoing — effect on evolution, which may have significant implications for the sustainability of global ecosystems.

A new multi-institution study led by the University of Washington that examines 1,600 global instances of phenotypic change — alterations to species’ observable traits such as size, development or behavior — shows more clearly than ever that urbanization is affecting the genetic makeup of species that are crucial to ecosystem health and success.

…

Rapid urbanization, the researchers write, poses new challenges for species, some of which will adapt or relocate while others go extinct. With this study, they sought to learn whether signs of human-caused change could be detected across species in urban ecosystems worldwide, and to what extent humans and our cities and societies might be speeding up these changes.

They analyzed 1,600 observations of phenotypic change across multiple regions and ecosystems worldwide, in a geo-referenced database, looking to discriminate between such human-caused signals and natural baselines and “non-urban drivers.”

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http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2017/01/01/1606034114

[Buckeye_Democrat]

1. It wouldn't surprise me if it's affecting human evolution too!

Ashkenazi Jews (from Europe) supposedly have the highest average IQ's in the world, but their Jewish counterparts from the Middle East have average IQ's.

Some people think it was due to "natural selection" in old Europe, with Jews utilized for hundreds of years in accounting/scholarly roles because Christians in those days believed that handling money was "dirty" work. The better Jewish money managers were better rewarded, had more children, etc.

That's assuming their higher IQ's are genetic or even a reality, of course.

Maybe this doesn't mean anything in terms of genetics either, but I HATE the feel of large urban areas and my family tree is full of dirt farmers going back several generations. When my parents showed me the small farms where they grew up, I felt like I was "home" despite my very young age.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. It stands to reason that some traits would be desirable in urban areas

For example, the ability to tolerate large numbers of other people in close proximity…

[Buckeye_Democrat]

3. Yeah, I agree.

Speaking of that, my siblings and I all struggle with those situations -- i.e., we're introverts who are physically drained by too much social interaction from too many people.