[Jamroll]

Homo erectus extinctus

Is nature determined to make men extinct? Senior scientists believe that women may evolve as humanity’s sole representatives — and social and political trends are lending weight to their theories. Lois Rogers reports

By the extrovert standards of our parliament, it is a surprisingly quiet debate, but one that will have all manner of implications. The Human Tissue and Embryos Bill, which is expected to become law next summer, says controversially that the fathers of artificially conceived children need not necessarily be recognised by the state. Are fathers destined to become redundant?

The bill is a reflection of much wider scientific and social changes. The technology to produce artificial sperm, or even create offspring from two females, is already in the pipeline; in addition, genetic evidence has shown that the Y chromosome, the only one that confers maleness, is in a long-term evolutionary decline.

And if that were not humiliating enough for men, in sizable communities across the country lesbians are not only forming partnerships, but they are openly bearing and raising children together, secure in the knowledge that British society now accepts such a lifestyle choice. Do men have a future at all?

The Y chromosome has scant function other than the production of sperm, and in many men it is not performing well. Male infertility is already surprisingly common: about 7% of men, or 1 in 13, are affected, often as a result of a defect in the coding mechanism for sperm production on the Y chromosome.

Scientists hypothesise that there is more scope for errors in the DNA to build up: as it replicates in sperm production, “mistakes” can tend to creep into the Y chromosome. In fact, Y chromosomes only have about 27 genes – the rest of the chromosome is composed of “junk” DNA that does not code for anything. This process has gone even further in other species: in kangaroos, for example, the production of male offspring comes from one solitary gene on the Y chromosome.

While other chromosomes pair up and swap DNA during the production of embryos, the Y chromosome in men does not do this. It is passed unchanged from generation to generation of fathers and sons, and while it has provided genealogists with a fascinating insight into the origins of entire communities, it has also raised other questions. The lack of ability to recombine means that Y chromosomes can’t repair themselves. A growing number of men have inherited a Y chromosome that was damaged during the production of their father’s sperm. There is considerable evidence that sperm counts are declining overall, and in some men the inherited damage to sperm production is so great as to render them infertile.

Bryan Sykes, professor of human genetics at Oxford University and author of the book Adam’s Curse, is convinced that men will die out as the Y chromosome withers. He has calculated that, at the current rate of decline, heterosexual reproduction may only last around 125,000 years. “The core sex is female,” he says. “Male infertility is high because genes on the Y chromosome are packing up all the time. Many species become extinct because their Y chromosomes apparently disintegrate. In the end, the same thing will probably lead to the extinction of the male gender.”

Read the rest here: Homo erectus extinctus - Times Online

[sixpakistan]

*waits for gotfiveonit & his female gurrl power equivalents to show up*

[Jamroll]

Originally Posted by sixpakistan

*waits for gotfiveonit & his female gurrl power equivalents to show up*

LOL!! Look at the advert on the left of this thread page!

[IbnMardhiyah]

well, yea ... we were told that a time would come when there would be one man for every 50 women.

aright fellas .. nice knowin' ya ... cya on the other side

[sally]

Originally Posted by IbnMardhiyah

well, yea ... we were told that a time would come when there would be one man for every 50 women.

aright fellas .. nice knowin' ya ... cya on the other side

LOL,


that's the DUMBEST article everrrr haaaaaaaaaaahaahahaah

well at least the dumbest headline + first 2 lines, ever actually, cuz i couldnt get past it

[Ilikemyscarf]

Don't care as long as I get my share.

[shadha]

I find that the article is bearing a lot of truth in it. Not only with the chromosome theory but also with the science and technology advances that are being made. Alternative pregnancy conception is on the rise as is sperm donating. It's estimated that the life of frozen sperm is unlimited. Both are basically canceling out the 'necessity' of a man in conceiving.

Then socially, we're being told that we don't 'need' men. We're putting off marriage and having children to instead further our education and/or pursue our careers. Homosexuality has always been on the rise but now it is being accepted as normal and glorified in the media. That sure as hell doesn't help the baby making process.

I wonder a few things. If women weren't treated as badly as we have been since the start, would we be as resentful towards the male gender as many of us are [varying in levels of resentfulness of course]? Also, if mankind, or rather womankind, live to see the day, or the days leading up to it, that the male species is entirely extinct, what will become of religion?

It's a very fascinating situation to ponder over. I find it especially fascinating that the article didn't mention anything on the reversal plan for this. I have yet to read any article that hints to a solution.

Needless to say, I'm sure GOT5 will have a fiesta with this thread.


shadha-

[MossadConspiracy]

homo erectus became extinct hundreds of thousands of years ago

[jinnzaman]

Polygamy + concubines = problem solved!

haha, jk.

(runs from thread)

[sally]

Originally Posted by MossadConspiracy

homo erectus became extinct hundreds of thousands of years ago

righttttt, i swear when i read it i was like, wait, we're really not considered homo erectus..we're homo sapiens but i was talking on the phone when i posted so i forgot
but i think what it means that we're homo erectus' closest relative or most alike or whatever. and because i think the diff between the humans before erectus and erectus was a lot drastic than the difference between erectus and us..so we're still a type of erecuts, i think

anyways just recalling this from a couple chapter worth of anthro lessons in my life..too lazy to google so might be off..or way off

[shadha]

jinnzaman: Polygamy + concubines = problem solved!

Well, if the male infertility rate continues to increase, how does that solve the problem?

I know you said it jokingly, but many believe that.


shadha-

[jinnzaman]

Originally Posted by shadha

jinnzaman: Polygamy + concubines = problem solved!

Well, if the male infertility rate continues to increase, how does that solve the problem?

I know you said it jokingly, but many believe that.


shadha-

Infertile males = don't breed

Fertile males = breed with more mates = more offspring more likely to be fertile = offset the harm from infertile males

[Timbit]

Somehow this doesn't worry me too much.
Qiyamat's gonna come before men die out, I think.

[Anderson]

Dumb article, from the Times aswell tsk tsk.

[Bluestar]

Jammy, the Times?

It would be a shame if the men died out Women are so amazing but they need an opposite to keep the world in balance