No. 104 of 108
September 25, 2025
A new study out of the University of Maine argues that culture has outstripped genetics in shaping human evolution. Whereas genetic change occurs over generations, “cultural forces can influence evolution in a matter of days or years. Humans can also choose which ideas, behaviors, and technologies to adopt, which theoretically speeds up the spread of successful cultural adaptations.” Genetic evolution follows an individual and their descendants; cultural evolution advantages or disadvantages large segments of society. In other news, obliquely related, Jimmy Kimmel’s re-opening night monologue is close to 20 million YouTube views, making it the most watched monologue in broadcast history.
Our current and future potential to thrive, not just survive, is dependent on our evolution as a species, including what we embrace, value, set aside, interrupt, cultivate. It is both good and bad news that culture – apparently – plays such a large role in human evolution. Rather than being tossed and turned, at affect, in the maelstrom of consumption-based and violence-teasing cultures, may we deliberately chart a new course, lay down the tracks for embrace-able tunes? Our story to write, as it turns out, if we so choose.