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Gene selection isn't that simple. Population members aren't useless to preserving genes once they're done having babies. Elders use and share collected knowle
by jtheory 14y ago
Gene selection isn't that simple.
Population members aren't useless to preserving genes once they're done having babies.
Elders use and share collected knowledge (particularly skills that take a long time to master), care for babies while the parents are hunting/etc., help with gathering/cooking/cleaning/etc.. If they are all sick & dying instead of doing this work, your group isn't going to do as well as the competing group whose elders are in good shape.
- nsxwolf 14y agoFair enough, but I still don't think we can show that humans have evolved to the point of achieving optimal health on a high carb diet in a few thousand years. Grain eaters are still overall pretty healthy, so they can still accomplish the beneficial things you describe, allowing their less-than-optimal genes to carry on.