Are Humans Still Evolving? 12 Days of Evolution #11

Watch all 12 Days of Evolution: ****** Tweet ****** Share on FB ⇒ ****** ↓ More info and sources below ↓ Recent human evolution of malaria resistance: ****** Recent human evolution of altitude tolerance: ****** I *highly* recommend these books: “Undeniable” by Bill Nye ****** “Why Evolution Is True” by Jerry Coyne ****** WEBSITES/TEACHING RESOURCES: - Berkeley’s “Understanding Evolution” ****** - The National Center for Science Education ****** Don’t miss a single one of our 12 Days of Evolution! Follow along with this playlist: ****** Darwin illustration credit: Nicku / Shutterstock Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment or check us out at the links below! Follow on Twitter: ****** ****** Follow on Tumblr: ****** Follow on Instagram: ****** Follow on Snapchat: YoDrJoe ----------------- It’s Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D. Follow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoe Email me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT com Facebook: ****** For more awesome science, check out: ****** Produced by PBS Digital Studios: ****** Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/Writer Joe Nicolosi - Director Amanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen Inc. Kate Eads - Producer Andrew Matthews - Editing/Motion Graphics/Animation Katie Graham - Camera John Knudsen - Gaffer Music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock, stock footage from Videoblocks (unless otherwise noted)

[MUSIC] [BIRD CHIRP] A thousand years ago, if you had been born with genes that made you diabetic, you’d probably die. But not today. Head to small for those extra wisdom teeth? Well, no more deadly infections, just go to the dentist. Today we don’t face many of the challenges our ancestors did. Now that we can modify our environment and we live long past the age we reproduce, some people think we’ve moved beyond natural selection. Recent history is full of examples that we’re still changing. Many of us carry a mutation that keeps a milk-digesting enzyme turned on into adulthood, allowing those people access to another source of nutrition. Even more recently, a genetic mutation has made Tibetan highlanders uniquely adapted to living at high altitudes. That’s practically yesterday when it comes to evolution. One copy of the mutation that causes sickle cell disease can protect people from malaria, which is why we see it selected in populations that live here. In areas where *** and AIDS continue to be hard to treat, a gene mutation that provides resistance to the virus will likely become more common. Like every living thing, we’re not an end product of natural selection, we’re a work in progress. So if you ever wonder if we’ve reached our evolutionary peak, remember going farther is just what we do. Stay curious.