Topic: Something rather controversial . . .

[FastGuppy]

well thank you but there's really no need.

[Chris Salvato]

My this is fascinating.

Is it possible it's simply the closer relations of races to their necessary primal athletic ability? In other words, having to still live in conditions where you may have to fight for your life is a massive boost to the general high 'grade' level of the genes of a population? Whereas for others whom have lived outside of that for any amount of time have been slowly adapting for other forms of living?

Also, what about how human evolution is accelerating exponentially, or at least more than it ever has before? Could that mean a large genetic change could happen in just 5,000 years instead of 10,000 er so?

Human evolution is not accelerating exponentially.  In fact, from a social standpoint, human evolution is degenerating -- we are evolving into a lesser species according to our own standards.

[Spencer B]

Human evolution is not accelerating exponentially.  In fact, from a social standpoint, human evolution is degenerating -- we are evolving into a lesser species according to our own standards.

Exponentially may very likely be incorrect/wrong wording, but I've heard from several sources we ARE evolving faster than ever before, instead of that evolution slowing down by our modern comforts and society.

And standards very greatly, what standards are you talking about? Standards of Traceurs? People in general?

[Chris Salvato]

Exponentially may very likely be incorrect/wrong wording, but I've heard from several sources we ARE evolving faster than ever before, instead of that evolution slowing down by our modern comforts and society.

And standards very greatly, what standards are you talking about? Standards of Traceurs? People in general?

People in general.

What sources have you seen that say we are evolving faster?  Evolving towards what end?  Evolving in what way?  We may be evolving quickly in the terms of racial crossbreeding - but not necessarily in terms of increasing our survivability.

[Spencer B]

I'll try and find the sources in a moment, but it basically said we're evolving faster to adapt to our very rapidly changing way of life.

In what way, I think I heard somethign abotu dealing with increasing amounts of fat(s) by way of increasing our metabolism and whatnot, but I'll have to double-check.

And if you consider it, it could be evolution to our survivability in a culture where surviving is easy but bad health choices are rampant.

[Steven Low]

The evidence of 95% of the fastest 100m times by african americans + caribbean islanders lends more credence to the theory of genetics. At highest level of sport, it is genetic variants that are determiners.

I do not believe nutrition to be a significant factor here as I said state sponsored athletes even in sub-saharan countries will fund their best.

Without any studies I guess we're stuck at an impasse.


Whatever the case, I have nothing to apologize for here. I'm done here.

[Rafe]

Chris Read this http://www.pnas.org/content/104/52/20753.abstract, then pick up the ten thousand year explosion by Cochran and Harpending.

In the sense of allele change is our evolution is accelerating and has been over the past 10,000 years, most of the genes that have swept in the last 10,000 years are related to diet, lactase persistance, amylase production increases, or immunodefense, there is some argument for genes related to cognitive performance, and I believe the myostatin downregulation genes I mentioned are charecteristics of africans swept within the last 10,000 years though don't quote me on that.

[Spencer B]

Whatever the case, I have nothing to apologize for here. I'm done here.

I don't blame you honestly. It was a misunderstanding but it's still... 

Anyways, Rafe beat me to posting links/sources, but that is what I was talking about even if I may have worded it awkwardly.

[Rafe]

Its clearly genetic steve the question is why, your a very bright guy who I have nothing but respect for but I think your clinging to an explanation here that is not rational given the evidence.

As far as nutrition having an effect on the success of west africans absolutely it would state sponsored athletes will be well fed but you still have to identify that talent out of population were the vast majority are under nourished average height is almost four inches different and thats very likely soley due to nutrition. Nutrition is huge confound when comparing african americans and west africans.