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Last Updated: Tuesday, 17 October 2006, 08:47 GMT 09:47 UK


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Human species 'may split in two'


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Humanity may split into two


sub-species in 100,000
years' time as predicted by
HG Wells, an expert has said.
Evolutionary theorist Oliver
Curry of the London School of
Economics expects a genetic
upper class and a dim-witted
underclass to emerge.
The human race would peak in
the year 3000, he said - before
a decline due to dependence on
technology.
People would become choosier
about their sexual partners,
causing humanity to divide into
sub-species, he added.
The descendants of the genetic Hum anity m ay split into an elite
upper class would be tall, slim, and an underclass, says Dr Curry
healthy, attractive, intelligent, and creative and a far cry
from the "underclass" humans who would have evolved into
dim-witted, ugly, squat goblin-like creatures.

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Race 'ironed out'


But in the nearer future, humans will evolve in 1,000 years
into giants between 6ft and 7ft tall, he predicts, while lifespans will have extended to 120 years, Dr Curry claims.
Physical appearance, driven by indicators of health, youth and
fertility, will improve, he says, while men will exhibit
symmetrical facial features, look athletic, and have squarer
jaws, deeper voices and bigger penises.
Women, on the other hand, will develop lighter, smooth,
hairless skin, large clear eyes, pert breasts, glossy hair, and
even features, he adds. Racial differences will be ironed out
by interbreeding, producing a uniform race of coffee-coloured
people.

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However, Dr Curry warns, in 10,000 years time humans may


have paid a genetic price for relying on technology.
Spoiled by gadgets designed to meet their every need, they
could come to resemble domesticated animals.
Receding chins
Social skills, such as communicating and interacting with
others, could be lost, along with emotions such as love,
sympathy, trust and respect. People would become less able
to care for others, or perform in teams.
Physically, they would start to appear more juvenile. Chins
would recede, as a result of having to chew less on processed
food.
There could also be health problems caused by reliance on
medicine, resulting in weak immune systems. Preventing
deaths would also help to preserve the genetic defects that
cause cancer.
Further into the future, sexual selection - being choosy about
one's partner - was likely to create more and more genetic
inequality, said Dr Curry.
The logical outcome would be two sub-species, "gracile" and

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"robust" humans similar to the Eloi and Morlocks foretold by HG


Wells in his 1895 novel The Time Machine.
"While science and technology have the potential to create
an ideal habitat for humanity over the next millennium, there
is a possibility of a monumental genetic hangover over the
subsequent millennia due to an over-reliance on technology
reducing our natural capacity to resist disease, or our evolved
ability to get along with each other, said Dr Curry.
He carried out the report for men's satellite TV channel Bravo.

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