The Current Strength of the Homo Sapiens Gene Pool:
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The current gene pool for Homo sapiens can be seen as quite strong overall.
Some may argue that medicine is negatively weakening our gene pool, through permitting the survival of individuals that would have been selected against without medical attention. Allowing these individuals with genetic defects to survive essentially enables these traits to maintain in our gene pool; hence, almost polluting our genes. For example, women who have small hips are forced to endure a caesarean while giving birth, permitting this small-hip phenotype may be passed onto the offspring in the genotype and cause them to also have difficulty in child-labour (if the offspring are female from the original mother).
However, not only is it immoral to let these unfortunate individuals suffer, but with the current use of medicine, these ongoing genetic problems can be overcome.
Our modern world permits virtually no limitations for travelling, therefore, we are not restricted as to who we can interact with on a global scale. This enables sexual relations, where new alleles can be dispersed into a different population and increase the genetic diversity, hence, strengthening our gene pool. With our large population and freedom of travel, there is an increased potential for diversity.
Modern technologies in science, especially in the medical field, are forever expanding to save lives and increase unforeseen possibilities for different conditions. Couples may have difficulty conceiving due to a genetic condition, however, they are no longer deprived of the opportunity to become parents, due to modern technologies such as In-vitro Fertilisation, which now enable chromosomal combinations to occur and new life forms to develop that may never have arisen through natural methods. Therefore, modern medical science enables a greater combination of alleles to form, which permits greater genetic variety in mixed populations; resulting in a stronger gene pool for Homo sapiens. The viewpoint as to why this is a strengthening factor is based on selective advantage. With more diversity in the gene pool, Homo sapiens are more adaptable to change and the introduction of new selective pressures, causing particular individuals to be placed at an advantage in specific environments over others, hence, reducing the likelihood of extinction if a new disease was introduced, for example.
Using modern medical science to save the lives of individuals who were previously selected against, the selection pressures can be changed. As modern humans, we are therefore at an advantage because we can change and manipulate the various pressures placed upon us, with the aid of modern technologies, in order to place ourselves at an advantage. Therefore, advancing medicine enables Homo sapiens, (i.e. ourselves), to manipulate the environment and overcome selection, hence, placing us in a powerful position to both preserve and enhance genetic diversity, which strengthens our gene pool.
Some may argue that medicine is negatively weakening our gene pool, through permitting the survival of individuals that would have been selected against without medical attention. Allowing these individuals with genetic defects to survive essentially enables these traits to maintain in our gene pool; hence, almost polluting our genes. For example, women who have small hips are forced to endure a caesarean while giving birth, permitting this small-hip phenotype may be passed onto the offspring in the genotype and cause them to also have difficulty in child-labour (if the offspring are female from the original mother).
However, not only is it immoral to let these unfortunate individuals suffer, but with the current use of medicine, these ongoing genetic problems can be overcome.
Our modern world permits virtually no limitations for travelling, therefore, we are not restricted as to who we can interact with on a global scale. This enables sexual relations, where new alleles can be dispersed into a different population and increase the genetic diversity, hence, strengthening our gene pool. With our large population and freedom of travel, there is an increased potential for diversity.
Modern technologies in science, especially in the medical field, are forever expanding to save lives and increase unforeseen possibilities for different conditions. Couples may have difficulty conceiving due to a genetic condition, however, they are no longer deprived of the opportunity to become parents, due to modern technologies such as In-vitro Fertilisation, which now enable chromosomal combinations to occur and new life forms to develop that may never have arisen through natural methods. Therefore, modern medical science enables a greater combination of alleles to form, which permits greater genetic variety in mixed populations; resulting in a stronger gene pool for Homo sapiens. The viewpoint as to why this is a strengthening factor is based on selective advantage. With more diversity in the gene pool, Homo sapiens are more adaptable to change and the introduction of new selective pressures, causing particular individuals to be placed at an advantage in specific environments over others, hence, reducing the likelihood of extinction if a new disease was introduced, for example.
Using modern medical science to save the lives of individuals who were previously selected against, the selection pressures can be changed. As modern humans, we are therefore at an advantage because we can change and manipulate the various pressures placed upon us, with the aid of modern technologies, in order to place ourselves at an advantage. Therefore, advancing medicine enables Homo sapiens, (i.e. ourselves), to manipulate the environment and overcome selection, hence, placing us in a powerful position to both preserve and enhance genetic diversity, which strengthens our gene pool.