Up the evolutionary ladder

Life, it is believed, started from a chain of self-replicating molecules in the oceans. From there it evolved into the single-celled amoe...

Life, it is believed, started from a chain of self-replicating molecules in the oceans. From there it evolved into the single-celled amoebae and onto more diverse life forms like insects, reptiles and mammals 8211; man being the highest on the evolutionary scale. The process of evolution seems to have halted there. Or has it?

We know that the great reptiles, the dinosaurs were wiped out by a cataclysmic event, letting the smaller mammals a free run of terra firma. Man is one of the newest animals that emerged from this branch. An animal with great intelligence, he has managed to literally transform the earth with his imagination and machines. Together the two man and machine have managed to accomplish feats that would not have been possible if man had tried to perform them alone. For example, landings on the moon, space exploration and even the exploration of the human body would not have been possible without the aid of machines.

Machines are fast becoming an integral part of both the social and professional lives of humans 8211; an extension of their senses. Telephones and mobile phones are an extension of the ear; the television and the internet are the extension of the mind and eyes; the microwave, washing machine, toaster and the like are an extension of the limbs. Man seems to be steadily integrating with others and the environment as he gradually increases his dependence on machines. These inanimate objects can be programmed to perform certain tasks for our benefit. Slowly, they become an inseparable part of life 8211; sharing a unique symbiotic relationship. Such a prediction might not lie too far in the future either.

Does this mean that man is evolving into a being who uses facilities other than his biological body to alter himself and the environment? It really isn8217;t as shocking as it seems. There are artificial heart valves which serve the purpose of biological valves, inserted into heart patients; the contact lens is inserted into into the eye to help correct vision; steel rods are inserted in place of bones to help accident victims; artificial skin grafts to help patients with burns are being developed8230; the list of more possibilities is endless. Soon it might become possible for man to live for more than 500 years, replacing his worn out organs and tissues with artificial products and machines. An artificial hip, limb or heart may not be such a far fetched idea after all. This would enable man to evolve into a superior being with a greater intellect, his memory and body aided by machines which will help him integrate better with his environment.