The evolution on display in our modern world is actually of two types: Evolution caused by specialization in isolated populations, and evolution driven by selective breeding. The second type is what will determine humanity’s near-future course.
Superhuman
This genetic class stratification will be further compounded within this century by the wealthy’s ability to afford medical procedures that ensure, and even allow the choice of, their offspring’s traits: the upcoming trend of “designer babies”. The advent of easier gene-editing techniques heralded by CRISPR/Cas-9 will bring about an era of pre-conceptive modification of the human body. Not only will those who can afford this technology be able to ensure their children are free of hereditary diseases — they will also be able to control how their children look. Soon, the children of the wealthy will be born with a base level of physical fitness, attractiveness, and intelligence that automatically places them in the top 1% of the human race.
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Parahuman
Further out, in the 10–100 thousand year range from now, the processes that drive human evolution will come full circle, in a way, as our species once again split into innumerable different groups during our time of colonizing the Solar System and exoplanets of other nearby stars. Living on worlds with significantly higher or lower gravitational pull than Earth will eventually transform the standard human body, as will the varied atmospheres, pressures, and exposure to different degrees of cosmic and solar radiation.
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Transhuman
Physical evolution is no longer tied completely to how our bodies might react on their own. The idea of transhumanism holds that we — and the machines we create and the artificial intelligence that grows out of our technology — will direct our evolution. We already incorporate a variety of technology into the bodies of people who have physical or mental impairments. We are on the cusp of implanting such technology for the entirely different purpose of enhancing our performance. Imagine having the full capacity and power of an internet-connected supercomputer plugged directly into your brain, nanomachines in your blood that increase your oxygenation and athletic performance, or eyes that can see every wavelength of light.
