In a study published in BioScience, researchers at the University of Maine suggest that humans are undergoing a major change in evolution. This shift is led by culture rather than genes. Culture is becoming the key force in how humans adapt and survive.
The researchers point out that cultural evolution - the way societies improve and spread useful knowledge - happens much faster than genetic evolution. For instance, farming techniques or laws can spread across groups in years, while gene changes take thousands of years. This speed lets humans solve problems like harsh weather or diseases quickly, without waiting for biology to catch up.
The researchers say this change has been building for a long time. It started with early human societies and is speeding up now. Culture helps groups adapt to new places and challenges in ways genes alone could not.
Culture outpaces genes
In today's world, cultural tools often replace the need for genetic changes. Eyeglasses fix poor vision that once depended on natural selection. Surgeries like cesarean sections allow births that might fail otherwise, and fertility treatments help people have children despite health issues. These inventions mean survival and family life rely more on hospitals, schools, and governments than on personal biology.
The study notes that society now shapes life outcomes more than genes. Over time, this could make human success depend on strong societies and their shared systems, rather than individual traits. This shift also makes humans more group-focused.
In humans, this might mean future generations evolve mainly through cultural updates, forming society-wide "superorganisms" that adapt via ideas and tools. Genetic engineering, for example, needs complex groups to work.
The idea is testable, with plans for math models and data tracking. The work aims to guide positive changes by understanding these patterns. If culture keeps leading, humanity's path may lie in the stories, rules, and inventions we build together.