Strager

I disagree. The only way this would cause evolution is if people who CAN'T have children at older ages were dying off. The evolution taking place there is the ability for people to have children longer and longer - My personal feelings on the subject is that it is a direct result the development of hidden estrus (Concealed ovulation) in our females. As we have no obvious signs that women are in heat, people developed social skills to make that determination. We evolved in our ability to communicate, and even the way our brains are shaped because the ones who weren't able to communicate as well were having less children. People born with the traits allowing these skills were able to successfully mate and pass on those traits to subsequent generations. The evolution taking place IS the ability for women to have children at an older age- as generations of people began to use their social skills for mating behaviors, the age in which women are sexually active has been increasing. As such, over time the ones who developed traits that allowed them to have children later in life, were increasingly passing on those genes. Than again, there is also always the factor that since people are living longer, women are simply more likely to have children at a later age (probability factor) and the fact that the mass media has only been around for a short amount of time, so accurate counts couldn't be taken previously. Going a bit off-subject for a sec, another contributing factor will soon be the recent introduction of "male enhancement" drugs, and artificial fertilization. As men are sexually active much later into their lifespans, genetic traits for impenitence will be passed on more often, and may even become the norm in several generations. The same can be said for women who can't get pregnant without help. How this will effect the age women have children is unclear, but it's likely to have a significant impact. If the current trends continue, we may one day "evolve" to the point where we are dependent on medications and science to reproduce at all. and back on point.... I do see where your coming from however. We could artificially force evolution on the species the way you are talking about. For example if we took sperm from any male who lived over 100 years, and used that for all artificial pregnancies, those children would have a 50-50 chance (actually less as there are numerous other factors, as well as a lot of other stuff...not to mention factors like if the gene is dominant or recessive....) of getting the DNA that allowed his sire to live so long. Over time those genes would become more prevalent in the gene pool, and eventually over a significant amount of time everyone would live into their 100s. Artificially are working to find ways of getting those genes into the population faster (gene manipulation) so future generations will have those traits. Finally I'd like to point out that all this is just of course my opinion. While I have done significant independent research, I'm not a biologist (I never even graduated college) by any stretch of the imagination. Basically I wouldn't quote this post as valid research - I could be wrong about something.....