How different, genetically, physiologically or mentally, are humans today from the first Homo sapiens? And do these changes reveal anything about how we might evolve in the future? Gail Whitbourne, Quebec City
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Readers reply
Both early and modern humans liked to go clubbing … although, in reality, they are vastly different activities. woodworm20
A generation ago, most people’s strongest finger was the pointer. Thanks to cellphones, it is now the thumb. Our next evolutionary leap will be reacting to technology, which for evolutionary biologists is probably quite exciting. CommanderGreg
We are weaker and dumber than they were, simply because survival was a lot tougher. No NHS in those days. We are less violent and in some places have a very inclusive culture, which our ancestors wouldn’t have bothered with. We have accumulated a lot more knowledge that will be useless when our civilisation collapses and we have to start again. Some of us also have blue eyes, which is nice. aarthoor
Going to see the Paleolithic cave paintings at Lascaux in south-west France, which date from about 17,000 years ago, and seeing works of art that are beyond the average person even today, puts this question into some perspective. There’s a story, perhaps apocryphal, that Pablo Picasso went to see the caves when they were opened. When he walked out afterwards, his verdict was something along the lines of: “We’ve learned absolutely nothing since then.” NickEM
Our ancestors were far more attuned to, and no doubt had an innate and humble respect for, the Earth – and for other sentient beings, rather than depending, as we modern humans do, on fossil fuels and other limited natural resources. We continue to lay waste our environment and the habitats of the other sentient beings we share this planet with. Richard Orlando
The technology we have access to would be the greatest difference, in that it influences every choice we make. In the past, an asshole was limited to his or her day-to-day associates, so their negativity was limited to them; now, they can have millions of followers online and can negatively affect many more people. MatronNo5org
Intellectually and emotionally, I think we are far more advanced even than humans born 100 years ago. For those of us born in the west with sanitation, healthcare and time-saving devices such as washing machines, we are much higher up on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. You could argue we are now in self-actualisation, which would have been unlikely for early humans, who had to fight hunger, threat and disease. GrasmereGardens
Most modern humans are descendants not only of early Homo sapiens sapiens but also of Neanderthals, Denisovans, Homo erectus, and whatever other hominins our ancestors mixed their genes with. Has that genetic admixture made us different from our “pure” H. sapiens forebears? fantod
Physiologically, we are much taller and, generally speaking, fitter. Humans were going through a bad patch for thousands of years until farming became established. Since then, we’ve managed to vastly improve our individual energy budget with better and more constant food and nutrition. But we’re going over budget in our takings from the Earth’s resources, which means the demise of humans once we pass the tipping point (if we’re not there already). kglowe
The establishment of agriculture and the shift from nomadism was one of the worst things to happen to mankind and one of the driving forces to push us “over budget” on the Earth. ismee
Well, let’s try an experiment to meet some new friends. Pick up my tools and off we go.
Get off the bus at the Appian Way in Rome, ask for a job on a building site. I can get the gist of what they’re talking about. After a few months, once my grasp of the language has improved, we could discuss construction techniques, complain about politicians, poor wages, what’s going on in the world of sport, music or theatre. Then pop down to the fast food place and enjoy a few bevvies. We are on a par, and that we both have citizen status is understood.
Off to Mesopotamia. Might be slightly at a disadvantage here. Maybe have to take a course or two. Akkadian as a second language, bit of construction technology as well. Fussy buggers, they were. I mean, have you seen the Great Gate of Ishtar? After a while, though, I think we’d hit it off, intellectually.
Now the first metal age. I think I might have been a bit of a bossy boots here. No, no, no, you’ve got to get the furnace hotter than that, let’s try a bit of case hardening. Could end up in a bit of a scrap. End up getting banished, and suffer a similar fate to poor old Ötzi.
The Paleolithics. Oh, I’d have to keep my opinions to myself. Can’t just buy tools, you have to learn how to make them. That’s not so easy, flint shaping. Probably best to prove yourself to be an asset to the group, and take it easy …
I haven’t a clue if we have changed genetically but as for the rest of it, I don’t think we have very much. Intelligence, I think, is pretty constant. Consider the Gate of Ishtar; go on then, could you do that? Bricklayersoption
I have read that the people we once called Cro-Magnon (AKA early modern humans) were not that different from us. They had brains that were about 100cc larger than ours on robust bodies that were about the same height as ours. If you dressed them up in a suit or a Glastonbury outfit, they would fit right in. They made fabulous art and tools, and survived an ice age. I wish I could meet a group of them and see how they lived. nancyjt
The changes from the past tell us nothing about how we will evolve in the future, because future evolution will be driven by a completely different mechanism. So far, our evolution has been driven by the wonderful – but very slow and erratic – process that was brilliantly described by Darwin.
For better or worse, within 20 to 100 years we will start to deliberately alter our DNA. I do not know what wonders – or horrors – that will lead to. MartinThomas
