Me: “Have you heard biologists have found that new human species have evolved recently?”
You: “No, I thought evolution was done, after Homo sapiens kicked the butts of Homo neanderthalensis, Homo erectus and the likes of Australopithicus species.”
Me: “Actually, current humans contain a small amount of Neanderthal DNA, which is expressed in the brains of certain individuals, but that’s another story for a different time.”
You: “Yeah, so, … what’s these new species?”
Me: “You shouldn’t start a sentence with ‘So’ if you’re not reaching a conclusion from earlier statements.”
You: So, “Like, what’s some of these new species?”
Me: “You shouldn’t … never mind! The most important one is Homo politicus, characterized by an obsessive and pathological striving for domination over others using lies, threats and money.”
You: “There’s others?”
Me: “Yes, there ARE others. Another important one is Homo economicus, characterized by views of the world as a quid pro quo marketplace of business opportunities, requiring total lack of empathy.”
You: “How many more?”
Me: “There’s Homo homo, but we won’t go there, since it’s not really new.”
You: “Even more?
Me: “Homo religionensis,” having cult-like tendencies to see the world as a battle between Good and Evil, in which the Good prevail and all the rest die.”
You: “I’m not sure about that one.”
Me: “Homo modernicus, with a compulsive need for continuous change, for the sake of change.”
You: “What’s wrong with change?”
Me: “Nothing; it’s the fuel for all evolutionary development. Take Homo sensibilis, who exhibit clear, rational thinking and an acceptance of the real world of diverse individuals that care for and help each other.”
You: “Which of these will survive and win the evolutionary race?”
Me: “I don’t really know … We’ll see. But it’ll be only those who prove to be most fit; that is, the ones who live long enough to successfully reproduce.”
Jeff Lemontt is a retired biomedical scientist who lives in Novato.
