Of all the choices humanity could have made, of all the pathways humanity could have chosen, opting for a societal existence as our means to survive was inspired.

Most obviously, it has worked – we are still in existence. By living together we have been better able to provide for each other – sustenance, shelter, heating and protection. As a result, we have been better able to overcome many of the challenges that Nature remorselessly brings to bear.

But there’s more. Societal living has had a substantive effect on our genetic development. Our breeding has improved. This is evident by our strength of being, our universal presence and our impressive resilience. Societal living has proven to be genetically advantageous. It has, in fact, been responsible for giving us our station in life, for putting us at the top of Nature’s pecking order.

This is because living in a societal structure creates the conditions for the improved operational effectiveness of our genes. It enhances their genetic capabilities by fostering better reproductive pairings and it also improves the survival prospects of those reproductive outputs.

Societal living has been conducive to genetic advancement because it provides the following:

The Concentration of a Population

With centres of population, it makes it easier to “shop around” for the right, the best genetic partner. It’s all in the one place. This means that individuals have more genetic choice and a better genetic choice.

With a concentrated population there is improved genetic visibility. “Shoppers” can see what’s available; it’s all there on the supermarket shelf. There are fewer limitations of supply in terms of quantity, variety and availability. Reproductive partnerships therefore prove more fruitful.

Living within a societal framework also provides a better sense of what will work well, what is more genetically appealing. We know what is on trend. It therefore becomes much easier to discern which genetic traits are desirable and which are not. This contributes to the production of better genetic outputs.

Genetic Momentum

The process of genetic advancement is usually slow and miniscule. It takes a long time for change to occur. But, in a societal setting, desirable change is easier to identify and easier to access. It can therefore be more proactively sought. This means that advantageous genes can more readily get a foothold. They can then – because of their obvious attractiveness – quickly gain momentum until they come to dominate. There can be a snowball effect – once on the move it becomes a gathering, aggrandising force.

The Encouragement of Migratory Movement

There is strength in numbers, so, as populations gathered together, they became more confident in exploring a wider geographical area. Our mobility improved. This is genetically advantageous because the more a population moves around, the more that population’s genes are mixed. New, external genes bring new genetic possibilities.

Increased Survival Rates

With society’s support, the genetically weak have an improved chance of surviving. This is advantageous because, although they may be weak and perhaps not the most attractive of genetic specimens, they can still carry genes that may have some contributory, beneficial attribute. All because the total individual package may not be genetically desirable it does not mean that there is nothing of genetic value there. With society’s support, the survival prospects of all genes are increased.

Similarly, weak genes in today’s environment could also be strong genes in tomorrow’s environment. By surviving, weak genes have a chance to better themselves. They are not immediately written off and wasted. They may then come good in the future. It’s like saving an off-cut of timber – one day you might just have a use for it.

New Opportunities

As society has changed our environment, it provides new opportunities for other skills and talents to thrive. New genetic traits become sought after. We are no longer judged purely on our strength and hunting prowess. Other qualities – creativity, empathy, communication skills, leadership ability – can be equally desirable. This extends our genetic diversity, meaning that there’s a bigger range of genes available in the mixing pot. As such, more genetic possibilities are created.

The more ingredients you have in the cupboard, the more recipes you can make.

Undoubtedly, this strengthens our genetic disposition.

Greater Reproductive Freedom

Society – with its protection and support – gives individuals more freedom in their reproductive choices. Individuals do not have to be quite so concerned with getting things wrong – their choice of partner, when to reproduce, how often to reproduce.

We may therefore pay less attention to the directions and dictates of our genetic masters. This may or may not be a good thing. It certainly introduces a randomness or erratic element to our reproductive behaviour. The genetic consequences are less predictable which, once again, increases the range of genetically possible outcomes and contributes to our genetic strength. The bigger the ornamental garden the less likely that one dead flower will stand out and spoil its beauty.

Society – our creation – impacts on the operating theatre of our genes. It reshapes the environment, changing the machinations of our genetic interplay.

So far, this doesn’t seem to have been a problem. Our genes have accepted and acquiesced to humanity’s societal development. But what of the future?

Society has certainly enabled humanity to thrive. Our success has given us added confidence in our chosen course which means that we now tend to push society as the solution for all our problems. Society exists to help us live longer and live better. We believe that with societal progress we can continue our advancement and increasingly tame Nature, securing our futures.

Of course, it’s not quite as straightforward as that. There are dangers with societal living.

You would think that the main one would be in-breeding. With individuals living so closely together, with reproductive mixing taking place from the same genetic pool, incestuous relationships and the possibility of congenital defects would be likely. Although this has occurred in some cultures and civilisations, it is for the most part rare. Our genes seem to have offset this danger by generating an adaptation which tends to ensure that we don’t find our own family members sexually attractive.

The real risks from societal living come from elsewhere:

Mixed Messaging

Given that society is our new “Living Environment” our genes will be torn as to their evolutionary direction. Which environmental state should they be looking to? Do they adapt according to what is required in Nature or to that which flourishes in society? They are like an employee with two bosses – whose instructions should they be following? This situation risks contradictory messaging and confusion.

Unnatural Behaviour

Living in society requires us to be generous to and supportive of others. This is not a thought process that tends to prevail in Nature. Our instincts are to be selfish and greedy; to do what’s in our own best interests; to prioritise our own genes over those of others. But in society, we can’t just think of our self and what is good for us. We can’t behave as we would naturally be inclined to do. This can be behaviourally challenging and lead to tensions in society.

A Man-Made Construct

Society is our creation, designed by us, built by us. If we genetically evolve to something that is of our own creation there is a danger of bias, prejudice and unfairness. As a man-made construct, society has no instructions, no limitations, no oversight. We are genetically adapting to something that is of our own specification. It’s a dangerous course to follow.

Quite simply, those that play the game should not make up the rules of the game.

Diversionary Temptation

Societal living – and this is part of its great attraction – has made life easier and better for us. Life isn’t so much of a struggle. With our survival reasonably assured, we have acquired free time. There’s more to life than merely surviving. And so we want comforts, pleasures, indulgences. To satisfy this need, society brings us recreational pursuits – diversionary temptations. The result of this is that we will often choose to strive for personal fulfilment instead of prioritising our genetic obligation. In so doing, we risk losing sight of our genetic focus, the very purpose of our being.

Incongruity

Tandemisation is the process where two forces move in perfect alignment. It is essential for congruity. Our genetic state must align with what is required in the prevailing environment. When one changes then so must the other.

There is a real danger that, in our efforts to offset the threat of Nature, we can strive to advance our society at a pace that is quicker than we can genetically adapt to. If this happens we can be genetically out of kilter with our environment.

The failure of our genes and our environment to be in harmony risks friction, conflict and potentially extinction.

Societal living has created an environment that has enabled our genes to flourish. We are genetically more developed, more dominant and more diverse. It has certainly been good for us.

However, it needs to be recognised that although this emphasis on societal progress may be conducive to genetic advancement, it does carry risks, existential risks. There are no guarantees that our genes will continue to have faith in us. There are no guarantees that our genes won’t abandon us for a better prospect. There are no guarantees that our future will be assured.

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