Human Evolution Has Not Ended and Is Changing Course

Scientists state that cultural evolution has surpassed genetic evolution in speed and impact, marking a new transition.

The famous “March of Progress” illustration, which culminates in modern Homo sapiens, suggests that our evolutionary history has reached its end. However, scientists at the University of Maine (USA) disagree with this notion, stating that human evolution continues, but is entering a new phase or “shift in gears.”

The core of the research, published in the journal BioScience, is that cultural evolution has surpassed genetic evolution. Crucial inventions like agriculture, vaccine development, urban infrastructure, and, more recently, genetic editing, demonstrate the capacity of human societies to create solutions that overcome strictly biological barriers.

According to the researchers, culture solves problems much faster than genetic evolution. Consequently, the species’ future will depend increasingly on these complex cultural systems rather than our biological inheritance.

The team’s next step is to create mathematical models capable of measuring the speed and dynamics of this cultural transition.