Is the human population evolving according to the Hardy-Weinberg principles?

Answer 1

Yes, humans are still evolving and have not met the hardy-weinberg equilibrium. Although, I do believe our rate of evolution has been slowed down. The hardy-weinberg theorem states that allele frequencies will not chance if there is a large population, mating opportunities are equal, no mutations occur, no migration occurs, and no natural selection occurs.

We certainly do have a large population (exception to certain isolated tribes that have not been influenced). This has slowed evolution because chance effect of genetic is nullified.

It is arguable to say mating opportunities are not always equal; we have a hierarchy in society where the rich are clearly separated from the average and poor. We all have a tendency to mate with each other. Also, our ability to reason (which seperates us from all other species) has allowed us to make a much more in depth analysis into what behavioral and physical traits we are attracted to in our mates (does not strike me as much different then sexual dimorphism). This implies sexual selection, which is a form of natural selection.

Think of all the locations where mutations occur (during replication, transcription, and translation), it is very unreasonable to think that in the entire human population no type of mutation ever occurs. It also has been proven that a mutation occurs, in a large population, in one in every gamete. Therefore, microevolution is still occurring.

The human race is obviously always migrating to different countries, and therefore are under different environmental pressures. A problem however is that we have gotten extremely good at altering our environment to our standards rather then adapting. Furthermore, it has been proven that a gene on chromosome 12 in Africans has 21 different variations (this is one amongst many differences in allele frequencies between different races). Therefore, if a North American, who only has 3 variations, mates with an African, then the allele frequency has changed and again the hardy-weinberg conditions are not met.