Scientists are re-examining whether genetic changes remain the primary catalyst of human evolution, or if another factor has become more influential.
Researchers at the University of Maine propose that culture now drives human evolution more than genetics. Cultural influences, such as technologies and social systems, are increasingly shaping aspects of life ranging from survival to reproduction, suggesting a fundamental shift in how humans evolve.
From Genes to Culture
In a paper published in BioScience, researchers Timothy M. Waring and Zachary T. Wood propose that humanity is undergoing what biologists call a “major evolutionary transition.” These rare inflection points in the history of life occur when evolution reorganizes what it means to be an individual, similar to when single cells merged into multicellular organisms or when ants and bees evolved into highly cooperative colonies.
Waring and Wood suggest that culture may be driving this shift. “Human evolution seems to be changing gears,” Waring said. “Culture solves problems much more rapidly than genetic evolution. This suggests our species is in the midst of a great evolutionary transition.”
Culture Eats Genes for Breakfast
Cultural innovations, such as advances in agriculture and legal systems, adapt far more rapidly than genetic mutations. In the modern world, technologies such as eyeglasses and fertility treatments often allow individuals to survive and reproduce in ways that bypass genetic limitations.
“Cultural evolution eats genetic evolution for breakfast,” said Wood. “It’s not even close.”
According to Waring and Wood, the modern environment increasingly favors cultural solutions. They note that, for many people, life outcomes are shaped more by the country and cultural systems into which they are born than by inherited genes.
The Role of Groups in Human Evolution
The researchers contend that culture is inherently shared; therefore, its dominance as an adaptive system pushes humans toward group-level evolution. For millennia, improvements in human survival from farming to sanitation have stemmed more from collective institutions than from individual traits.
“If humans are evolving to rely on cultural adaptation, we are also evolving to become more group-oriented and group-dependent,” Waring said. That shift could mean that what it means to be “human” is changing at the deepest level, with societies, not individuals, becoming the true measure of evolution.
Toward a Societal Superorganism
The authors describe this process as a potential transition in human individuality. In the same way that single cells form tissues and insects develop into colonies, humans may be moving toward becoming societal superorganisms, with cultural influences guiding future evolution, rather than DNA.
Genetic engineering, for instance, is a product of culture that depends on the support of a complex society. If these trends continue, Waring and Wood suggest that future human evolution may occur primarily through cultural change, with technologies, institutions, and collective knowledge becoming the main drivers.
Testing the Hypothesis
The authors stress that their theory is testable, proposing methods for measuring the pace of this cultural-to-genetic transition, including the use of mathematical models and long-term data collection. Their Applied Cultural Evolution Laboratory at the University of Maine is already working on such efforts.
The researchers are also careful to note that cultural evolution is not necessarily a sign of progress. Just as genetic evolution can produce harmful traits, cultural systems can foster both constructive and destructive outcomes. “Evolution can create both good solutions and brutal outcomes,” Wood surmised.
The Future of Evolution
If supported by additional research, this theory implies that the future of humanity will depend more on the resilience and adaptability of societal systems than on genetic or biological factors.
As Waring puts it, “If cultural inheritance continues to dominate, our fates as individuals, and the future of our species, may increasingly hinge on the strength and adaptability of our societies.”
Austin Burgess is a writer and researcher with a background in sales, marketing, and data analytics. He holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, along with a certification in Data Analytics. His work combines analytical training with a focus on emerging science, aerospace, and astronomical research.