Knowledge of Evolution Is Power
Evolution did not just take place in humanity’s past, according to Utah Valley University geneticist Daniel Fairbanks. He argues that it is occurring and shaping human life now, and that it will continue to do so.
Fairbanks summarizes the existing knowledge of human evolution and the evidence for it, including discoveries about the human genome. We obtain a wealth of information about our evolutionary past from our DNA, he says, and he expects medicine to consult DNA all the more in the future. The costs of DNA testing are dropping precipitously, and they may become nearly universal, thus allowing for early detection and treatment or prevention of a wide range of disorders.
Fairbanks also describes how evolution continues. Species all around us mutate all the time, especially at the microbial level. We still evolve, too. New chromosome arrangements frequently appear in humans.
Fairbanks strongly hopes that our knowledge of evolutionary processes will continue to expand. Knowledge of evolution has already led to many beneficial innovations. For example, observation of microbes’ evolution aided the creation of vaccines for swine flu and other new diseases. Also, by studying the evolution of plant species, one research group created a synthetic version of an anti-cancer chemical that is found within a certain plant.
Humanity faces many challenges to its own evolutionary future: population growth, limited food and water supplies, and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and viruses, as well as crop-killing pests and weeds that withstand pesticides. The more we know of evolution, the more adept we will be to counter the challenges.
Fairbanks discusses immensely complex areas of science in remarkably approachable, reader-friendly prose. All readers who value science and human welfare will likely enjoy this primer on evolution and future research thereof.
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