The Effects of Technology on Human Evolution

Isn’t technology great? I’m not just talking about computers and cell phones, but the modern amenities that make the quality our lives much better. Things like indoor plumbing, modern medicine, frozen dinners, soap, electrical appliances, etc. The list goes on. When I refer to technology, I am referring to anything that makes human life easier, including but not limited to the stuff I just mentioned. I enjoy the benefits of technology just as everyone else does. And I also believe that modern medicine (drugs, surgery, therapy, immunizations, etc.) should be administered to everyone in need. But what effect does this technology have on us as a species?

In order to sustain life, a species needs to be able to adapt to a changing environment. This is made possible by evolution. Evolution can be summarized as a series of genetic mutations inherited from the next generation. There are several reasons why genetic mutations occur. Sexual reproduction, environmental changes, agents such as radiation, and errors that occur during DNA replication, are all examples of mutagens (events that trigger genetic mutations). Evolution aids in the continuing struggle for survival of life on Earth. However, evolution is very slow, and a species will more likely become extinct before it can evolve in order to adapt to a rapid dramatic change in the environment. Evolution also requires large amounts of ideal DNA samples to be passed on through sexual reproduction. Who or what determines the source of ideal DNA? The answer is natural selection, commonly referred to as “survival of the fittest”. In order to ensure that only optimal DNA is passed on to the next generation, a species is constantly subject to natural selection. Without it, evolution decreases in both speed and magnitude, as if it wasn’t slow enough already! Natural selection is designed to prevent the old, weak, sick, and inferior specimens from passing their genetic material to the next generation. This way, only the best DNA samples are incorporated into the next generation, strengthening the species. Evolution is an important element of survival on earth.

So what does all this evolution and natural selection have to do with technology? Let’s start with modern medicine. I want you to understand that I am not opposed to modern medicine, but take a minute to think of the effect it has on our species. Modern medicine protects the very specimens that natural selection is designed to eliminate, allowing for more inferior genetic material to be passed to the next generation, thus decreasing the effectiveness of our evolution. It may even allow damaged and negatively mutated DNA, i.e. a mutation caused by an agent such as radiation, to be passed to the next generation, essentially weakening our species, and possibly introducing new diseases into our world. This may be the cause of cancer. Who knows? Without modern medicine, a diseased, weak or injured specimen would be eliminated via natural selection, unable to contribute its genetic makeup to future generations.

Besides modern medicine, the development and utilization of weapons contributes to the failure of natural selection, allowing more specimens to survive and reproduce. Weapons were first used by early humans to defend themselves from predators. Not long after, they used weapons to acquire sources of food that were once difficult to obtain. As our species and technology continued to evolve, we eventually climbed to the top of the food chain, effectively eliminating the threat of predators, and disrupting the fragile equilibrium of the ecosystem. Now, the only hazards to humans are other humans, as well as the environment, disease, and the very technology we have created.



Assuming that there are no catastrophic disasters, i.e. sudden extreme climate change, meteor strike, nuclear war, etc., we will inevitably reach a point at which the need for evolution approaches zero. The planet and its environment will continue to change, while the evolution of our species has slowed to a halt. Once that point is reached, the survival of our species will depend on the utilization of technology, as well as the development of new technology, in order to sustain our life on earth. The dependency of technology by humans has already begun, and is continuously increasing, as well as the weakening of our species, decreasing the long-term probability of the survival of the human race.