Human Sexuality and Natural Selection - Term Paper Example

? Human sexuality and Natural selection Introduction The evolution theory is one of the greatest scholarly revolutions of the history of man, drastically changing the perception the place of the world and its perception. It is from this theory that the process of natural selection emerged. It is, therefore necessary that one has an insight of the theory before getting into details of natural selection. This theory has its origin with Charles Darwin who went further to come up with an immense body of data in support of the theory. Before him, most scholars and scientists believed that the existence and adaptation of each organism was under the influence of the creator (Bootle, 2011). His theory held that species change over a specific time and space. This reflected that species in the current world greatly differ from species that lived in the past. While population located in different geographic areas show only slight differences in behavior and form. Natural Selection Darwin’s theory of evolution also held that populations only divided into different species over time, but held a common ancestor. According to him, this explained the similarities in organisms that are placed under one classification. A further argument raised by Darwin is that changes in evolution are slow and gradual. He supported this with the argument that there has been long episodes of changes in organisms and that no one ever observed these changes take place. Darwin emphasized his theory of evolution using the process of natural selection. This process had four different components; inheritance, variation, differential reproduction and survival, and high population growth rate. According to him, organisms struggle for survival. This involves a struggle for the available resources. He however, felt that this struggle only favors individuals that portray certain variations at the expense of other organisms. Those traits that are advantageous are referred to as adaptations (Jordania, 2012). For natural selection to operate the organism must poses variations in heritage and should also show advantages in resource competition. Sexual Attraction and Natural Selection Scientists have argued that natural selection has, to some extent influenced what people find sexually attractive. It has been argued that sexual selection is a variation of natural selection. This reflects to that a single gender may prefer specific traits to be part of their mate. It is therefore obvious that individuals with those traits that are found to be attractive shall show a higher success in production, hence spread their genes through the entire population. Successful reproduction and copulation has been broadcast for a long time by humans. This process has constantly been researched and studied for millions of years to determine the psychological and physiological motivations behind sexual attraction and procreation. Darwin with his evolution theory natural selection and survival of species viewed reproduction and mating as being driven by forces that are biological (Jordania, 2012). For the survival of humans and ensuring that their genes live longer certain partners should be chosen based on genes and biological fitness. The human organism is also biologically driven in terms of mating and some sexual practices between them. It has also been argued that this controls much of what both women and men find attractive and could in most cases, override social and emotional desires. It has been argued that sexual selection is a variation of natural selection (Pollack, 2000). This reflects to that a single gender may prefer specific traits to be part of their mate. It is therefore obvious that individuals with those traits that are found to be attractive shall show a higher success in production, hence spread their genes through the entire population. Characteristics Viewed as Attractive and Natural Selection The fact that sexual selection is a variation of natural selection explains, to some extent, how natural selection has shaped the physical features that people judge as handsome, beautiful, or attractive. Paleoanthropologists are the scientists who are concerned with the study of evolution of mankind. These scientists have come up with varieties of ideas in relation to the manner in which conditions in the environment could have stimulated long-lasting evolutionary changes in humans. This is majorly because it has been observed that attractive traits have become immensely exaggerated. This is majorly to exploit the less preferred genders. With the influence that sexual selection has on the population, scientists started wondering whether any traits were as a result of preferences in mate choices (Randon, 2008). One of the first traits that was looked at was the male hairy chest, which, though with no functional role, was viewed as attractive. This is a sexually select trait. Height was also another trait that scientists found to have an effect in the mate preferences as far as appearance was concerned. In such a manner, natural selection causes both the desire for good-looking traits to spread throughout a given population. It is selected purposely because it is viewed as attractive and not because it is healthy. Generally, all humans represent single species that survived a wide evolutionary tree. The earlier species that did not survive became instinct over time. The immense changes in the environment are likely to introduce with new challenges of survival. Human evolution generally involved the appearance of a varied suite of a species as well as the accumulation of a variety of adaptations such as enlargement of the brain, growth changes, bipedal walking, making and the use of tools, and complexity in social behavior and the mind. A significant feature of the history of earth during the human evolution period is drying of the environment, cooling, and fluctuations of the climate over time (Pollack, 2000). Conclusion There are a diversity of proposals on the role of the environment in the evolution of humans. Some of these views hold that some adaptations such as tool-making, an upright walking, are associated with particular habitats. For instance the upright walking adaptation had an advantage to those who lived in the dry savannas. Moreover, it proved beneficial in that the hands were made free and could, therefore carry items. Humans, like most other organisms are affected by genetic and evolutionary dynamics, resulting to biologically rooted mutation and recombination. These changes leave the marks on the human genome. Mutation restocks variations that change while selection habitually eliminates the former through chances and the later through negative selection (Pollack, 2000). Human migration functions to homogenize populations through the flow of genes while at the same time diversifying populations within through the introduction of novel variants. References Bootle, O. (2011). Are humans still evolving by Darwin's natural selection? Retrieved on 22nd October 2012 from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12535647. (Scholarly) Jordania, J. (2012). Sexual Selection or Natural Selection? New Look on the Evolution of Human Morphology, Behavior and Art Essay. Retrieved on 22nd October 2012 from http://www.antiessays.com/free-essays/275280.html. (Scholarly) Pollack, R. (2000). NATURAL SELECTION, THE HUMAN GENOME, AND THE IDEA OF RACE. Retrieved on 22nd October 2012 from http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/genewatch/GeneWatchPage.aspx?pageId=199. (Non-scholarly) Randon, R. (2008). Natural Selection. Retrieved on 22nd October 2012 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/natural-selection/. (Non-scholarly) Read More