Everyone thinks of evolution as that process by which mother nature advances the animals and brought humanity to our current level. No one considers the fact that evolution is still occurring within the human race. But, no one and nothing is directing that evolution. Are we doomed as a species? Will we ever evolve in a positive way? We are in fact the only species with the knowledge and capability to direct it's own evolution. Yet, we do nothing.

Evolution happens all around us. It's very slow in most cases, but we have been able to visibly increase the rate of change through selective breeding programs. That is how the domesticated animals, and plants, change and evolve. Through selective breeding. In the course of a single lifetime a good breeder can create from several breeds a completely new breed of dog or cat and have that breed accepted into whatever governing body there is for showing that animal. The Argentine Dogo (http://www.dogo.org) is a perfect example. This breed is less than 100 years old. And while it resembles other breeds, it is in fact a completely different breed of dog. Created through the will of it's breeders.

Humanity is subject to evolution still, but it is not directed evolution. We have removed ourselves from natural selection through the use of science. Not a bad thing in and of itself, but we are not controlling our breeding process at all. Generation after generation we reproduce and spread potentially lethal genetic mutation and our answer to that is more science, more medicine. We selfishly save those who could not survive on their own and then when they grow up, they selfishly reproduce. Simply put, this is bad breeding. If a professional dog breeder did this with it's dogs, they would go broke. No handlers would buy his/her puppies.

We have possessed the knowledge to control our genetic destiny for centuries. We have taken no action to direct it at all. Before you bring it up, the misguided attempts at racial supremacy are not what I'm talking about. I don't care about racial, religious or ethnic background. What I'm talking about is deliberately breeding traits that are a detriment, to our species and society, out. For instance potential breeders should be both physically healthy and free of genetic defects. Including physical deformities. Also, a potential breeder should be required to pass an IQ examination, based on his/her particular social, ethnic and religious background. This would have two positive effects. One, we would eliminate all diseases that are passed on through reproduction and genetics. Two, we would begin to raise the average IQ of our species and thus get smarter and hopefully wiser.

I know what your thinking. "How can this guy be willing to sacrifice our freedom?! Our 'right' to pass on our lineage." Most of the people in the US are lining up to sacrifice their freedom for the illusion of security and safety from terrorists. I am talking about a much more serious and dangerous threat. One to our very survival. If we continue to corrupt our gene pool, we could breed ourselves into extinction. I guess that will teach the terrorists a lesson.

I would like to think that we are evolved enough socially that we could fairly and responsibly manage our genetic evolution. I wonder if that's too much to ask of us though.