• Question: Could humans one day we evolve so that we can breathe underwater?

    Asked by laraa to Meeks, Pete, Stephen, Steve, Tom on 21 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Marieke Navin

      Marieke Navin answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      I don’t think so – we pretty much left the oceans behind us and evolved ways to survive on land. We’re pretty much adapted to land now.

    • Photo: Tom Hartley

      Tom Hartley answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      I wouldn’t rule anything out with evolution, but this type of change would take a long time and would be associated with other adaptations to an aquatic lifestyle, so I don’t think we’d think of the aquatic versions of us as human anymore.

      Guesses about the future of evolution are just that: guesses. But we can look at other examples in the animal world.

      Mammals (e.g., hippos, seals, sealions, manatees, whales, dolphins) have previously made the change from land to water, and they have not gained the ability to breathe underwater, rather they are able to hold their breath and (in the most extreme case of whales and dolphins at least) have special adaptations to allow them to breath at the surface, together with streamlined body shape and fins/flippers. I guess an aquatic human would be something like a dolphin or seal. I doubt if they’d think and talk like us.

    • Photo: Stephen Curry

      Stephen Curry answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Never say never with evolution: I don’t see why not even if I do find it difficult to imagine the intermediate forms that would be necessary.

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