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What if pregnancy evolved to be an active process?
Topic Started: Jul 11 2017, 11:31 AM (431 Views)
Sharad9
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Women evolved early in human history with the ability to control their reproductive functions completly. Pregnancy became a conscious choice, in which they could choose when to concieve. rate of gestation could be controlled to some limited extent, or pause at will if neccessary. All the negative drawbacks that come with pregnancy, such as morning sickness, cramps, etc, would be nonexistent. Birth would also be painless.
matriarchial systems developed in which one gender made the ultimate decision of having children. Men and women play specific roles in society, with females at the top of the heirachy. Only males considered worthy enough in some way or meet a certain standard would have any descendents. Traits such as intelligence, immunologic capabilities, superior bodily constitution and psychologic balance become the most wanted traits to look for in a reproductive mate.
What would be the long term ramifications of this? How else would taking the randomness out of conception affect the development of human society? Would we have a smaller population of people? Would nuclear families be a thing?
Edited by Sharad9, Jul 11 2017, 11:33 AM.
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Yiqi15
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The real question you should ask is "What would be the mechanical workings of animals if pregnancy evolved to be an active process?". This sort of topic belongs on Questions that don't need their own topics, anyway.
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Talenkauen
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That seems really far fetched. No animal has ever be able to evolve such a level of control over their pregnancy. True certain animals can voluntarily abort their pregnancy in times of stress, but no animal has ever been able to control their pregnancy as actively as you describe. Instead of asking what humans could do with such an ability, you should be asking if it's even physically possible to evolve such an ability in the first place.
Edited by Talenkauen, Jul 11 2017, 12:25 PM.
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Ànraich
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Talenkauen Spec
Jul 11 2017, 12:01 PM
That seems really far fetched. No animal has ever be able to evolve such a level of control over their pregnancy. True certain animals can voluntarily abort their pregnancy in times of stress, but no animal has ever been able to control their pregnancy as actively as you describe. Instead of asking what humans could do with such an ability, you should be asking if it's even physically possible to evolve such an ability in the first place.
I'm pretty sure the kangaroo can, actually.
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"The Lord Universe said: 'The same fate I have given to all things from stones to stars, that one day they shall become naught but memories aloft upon the winds of time. From dust all was born, and to dust all shall return.' He then looked upon His greatest creation, life, and pitied them, for unlike stars and stones they would soon learn of this fate and despair in the futility of their own existence. And so the Lord Universe decided to give life two gifts to save them from this despair. The first of these gifts was the soul, that life might more readily accept their fate, and the second was fear, that they might in time learn to avoid it altogether." - Excerpt from a Chanagwan creation myth, Legends and Folklore of the Planet Ghar, collected and published by Yieju Bai'an, explorer from the Celestial Commonwealth of Qonming

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Talenkauen
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Parasky
Jul 11 2017, 01:03 PM
I'm pretty sure the kangaroo can, actually.

Kangaroos can only halt a pregnancy if they conceive a joey whilst one is already gestating. Plus, the process technically still isn't voluntary.
Edited by Talenkauen, Jul 11 2017, 02:51 PM.
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trees
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Ultimately I don't see this changing the development of human society all too much since its basically just biological birth control. It would certainly change some things however. There would be little to no debate over abortion, women who are raped would no longer have the possibility of being impregnated from the crime, and yes, perhaps the population would be smaller as people would face less pressure to keep accidental babies
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