3 Surprising Ways Humans Are Still Evolving

Evolution gave humanity powerful brains, flat feet, and opposable thumbs. But it's not through with us yet. Humans are still evolving new traits that help us survive and thrive in a changing world.

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Following is a transcript of the video:

On the outside, it may seem like we haven’t changed much from our early ancestors. But take a closer look and you’ll discover that humans are still evolving in some fascinating new ways.

HOLDING YOUR BREATH
The average person can hold their breath for 30 seconds. But Bajau people in Southeast Asia can hold it up to 12 minutes! Which comes in handy when they freedive over 230 feet for food.

Part of the reason is simply training and experience, since they spend over half their work day underwater But it turns out the Bajau also have a genetic mutation that makes their spleens 50% larger than average.

Our spleens are what filter and store oxygen-rich red blood cells. So, when the Bajau dive underwater their larger spleens contract, which boosts oxygen levels in the blood by up to 10%, allowing them more time to collect food. It’s a handy adaptation that probably came from living on houseboats for the last 1,000 years.

DRINKING MILK
About 35% of the world’s population has the equivalent of a genetic superpower: They can digest milk as adults. Not impressed? Then consider this: humans are the ONLY mammals on the planet with this ability.

Thanks to a genetic mutation that popped up in Europe around 5 to 10 thousand years ago. Those with the mutation produce lactase throughout their lives. That’s the enzyme that breaks down milk sugars for easy digestion.

All other mammals, and humans for most of history, stop producing it after childhood.

But once those lucky few Europeans could drink milk as adults, that suddenly meant extra nutrition and ultimately healthier, longer lives so that they could pass their superpower on to future generations.

Today, roughly 95% of Northern Europeans have the mutation.

FENDING OFF DISEASE
The human body has an estimated 20 to 30 thousand genes. And while some mutations can change our spleens and diet others can protect us against deadly conditions, like AIDS.

Nearly 50% of women in parts of South Africa have HIV. But researchers found that some show a stronger resistance to the virus taking longer to develop AIDS, or sometimes never getting it at all.

Turns out, these women also share a mutation in a gene called HLA-B27, that the others lack.

Does this mean we're going to evolve our way to HIV immunity? It’s too early to say. But one thing’s clear:

Evolution’s not done with us yet.

[matthe]

All these mutations yet evolution still hasn't thought of a way to stop me from accidentally biting my cheek

[Nole]

1:44 did that girl just become a dude?

[massqrs]

I hope the eyes would be stronger so people don’t get blind and wear prescription glasses.

[TurtleTimeVoiceOvers]

Here’s another way we are evolving. I’ve been in the dental field for over 20 years. People are slowly evolving to have less wisdom teeth. Some patients only have two or three wisdom teeth, (instead of 4) sometimes one or none at all. Our jaws have gotten smaller so there is just no room for wisdom teeth. I’m not a scientist but it feels like our mouths are evolving so teeth fit our smaller jaws. Weird dental side note: The strangest thing was that we once extracted four wisdom teeth and joked with the patient that we planted four seeds so they would grow back. A few years later, four new wisdom teeth were growing. He blamed us and we couldn’t convince him otherwise. ;-)

[carloliverbayon-on]

Here in the Philippines, I witnessed a group of Badjao divers hunting for a fish. Yes, it is true that they can last for up to 12 minutes underwater, but 230 feet below sea level? Hell, no! They can only reach for up to 40-80 feet below.

[heroboom]

People have evolved to watching memes and playing fortnite

[checkmyplaylist]

We are evolving. Fortnite added that you can thank the bus driver

[rexlongfellow]

Don't forget memes, the pinnacle of human evolution.

[alignmentsixtrading]

Evolution might not be done with us, but the planet might be.

[ButFirstHeLitItOnFire]

There should be a project to gather genes from exceptional individuals and groups to try and make these beneficial mutations more prevalent and flawless, while making them widely available through therapy’s and pre birth modification. Imagine whole swaths of new populations that don’t have to deal with lactose intolerance, or increased natural disease resistances. Or how many lives in water rich areas that can be aided and saved with being able to hold your breath 24 times the normal capacity.

[juliusandcrew]

Human body amazes me! Can’t wait to be a cardiologist and perform heart transplants-helping people live longer!!!

[vixenkitty]

First






.. Episode of Spongebob Squarepants was called "Help Wanted"

[earthling]

Tech Insider: Humans are the only mammals that can drink milk.

Cat: Am I a joke to you?

[UnlimitedFlyers]

The spleen genetic adaptation is fascinating. I thought at best that only people living at high altitudes would adapt to absorb more oxygen from the air, but combine it with the spleen one and I bet you'd have superhuman-level oxygen intake. Which in turn would spurn greater muscle growth and strength. We could be talking about Usain Bolt-level sprint bursts... and perhaps even beyond that.

#SCIENCE! is truly awesome.

[nkanyezihlatshwayo]

1. Adult lactose tolerance evolved independently in loads of places loads of times 2. Hiv/Aids numbers in South Africa are reported here as overblown and vague — fan of the channel, and mostly accurate, but those two ideas in particular can be dangerous to circulate erroneously or without context.

[feynstein]

Let's hope we don't end up like Idiocracy :)

[keerthichandra]

Technically, almost every living species is continuously evolving at a minuscule rate. That is how life has flourished over millions of years on Earth

[mayar]

No one said humans ever stopped evolving and they will never stop

[MAXIMUS-ykvs]

I swear at time I can hold my breath for so long it feels like I’m going to another world and it’s so magical

[IzzysTravelDiaries]

I'm European, and the lactose tolerance is decreasing. I'm lactose intolerant too, and so was my grandfather.