Question

Are humans still evolving?

Answer 1

Hint: This is the change that occurs in the characteristics of a species over several years. These changes depend upon the phenomenon of natural selection. This process of changes in the characteristics is continuous and is still going on.

Complete answer:
Yes, humans are still evolving. This has been demonstrated through genetic studies.
Genetic variants are found by differentiating between genomes of different people and checking for differences in the DNA sequence and for differences in gene location in their genomes.
-If the genetic variants give out a particular advantage and improve human health, they are more likely to survive and be passed onto future generations. Thus they become more frequent in a population. When such a phenomenon happens, a pattern or 'signature' are often found within the genomes of the concerned population. This happens because a genetic variant always starts to spread through a population, and it doesn’t come alone but brings with it some nearby genetic ‘passengers’.
-These passengers are located on either side of the advantageous variant and are bits of DNA . So, when such a signature is found in many genomes in a population, it is certainly indicative that natural selection could be operating.
-If the genomes of two populations are found to be very different, it might be a symbol that selection has occurred in one population, but not the opposite.
-As the advantageous gene starts to become more common, it can influence which other genes are expressed and even reduce the general level of genetic variation within the surrounding area of the genome, making it stand out.

Note:
-Scientists have found that the bulk of genes that have undergone recent evolution are related to smell, reproduction, brain development, skin pigmentation, and immunity.
-One example of recent survival in humans involves the power to tolerate the sugar, lactose, in milk.