Predictions: What Our Descendants Will Be Like If They Are to Us as We Are to Apes

Per the parameters of the question, the extrapolations can be fascinating, if also highly speculative. Let’s explore a series of imaginary scenarios, and how our descendants might be transformed if they evolve in a manner reminiscent of our own development from apes to humans.

Biological Adaptations

Bipedal Gait: As humans transitioned from quadrupedalism to bipedalism, our descendants might evolve to an even more efficient form of locomotion. For example, they could hop on a single foot or even levitate, enabling them to cover vast distances without effort. While humans currently walk over 50 feet with a single throw, our descendants might achieve throws of up to 250 feet with pinpoint accuracy. Endurance and Stamina: Compared to modern apes, humans boast superior endurance. Our descendants, taking this further, might be capable of ultra-endurance feats like giga-iron man competitions and crossing continents without rest. They might be able to walk from one continent to another with ease. Clothing and Artificial Wombs: Given the superior childbirth experience of apes, our descendants might face even more challenging deliveries, necessitating the assistance of multiple midwives or even the use of artificial wombs. Additionally, they might evolve to be completely hairless and rely on advanced prosthetics to carry out daily tasks.

Strength and Size

Strength: Apes are significantly stronger than humans, typically 2-7 times the strength per unit of weight. Our descendants, on the other hand, might be up to 2-7 times weaker, necessitating the use of advanced robotic assistance for even basic tasks like carrying groceries. Size: A fascinating potential development is the complete loss of hair, with our descendants being almost completely hairless from head to toe. Conversely, their reproductive organs might evolve to be much larger, with males potentially having penises over 12 inches in length on average, and females having breast and buttock sizes at least triple the current average.

Developments in Communication and Cognition

Vocabulary and Language: Apes can produce a handful of sounds, while modern humans can communicate through around 35 phonemes. Our descendants might develop a language containing over 100 phonemes, with adult vocabularies estimated at over one million words. They could also develop more complex grammatical structures. Memory and Technology: Given that apes possess superior nonverbal memory, our descendants might struggle with verbal memory, relying heavily on technology such as PDAs to manage daily routines. This shift might also impact other cognitive tasks, leading to a greater dependence on external memory aids.

Social Structure and Interaction

Social Circle: Modern humans maintain social connections with about 100 individuals, while our apelike ancestors had much smaller social groups. Our descendants might be capable of maintaining social relationships with about 1,000 close friends, due to technological and cognitive advancements. Density and Comfort: Ape troops generally function without stress in groups of 10-20 individuals, while modern humans live in cities of over 10 million without significant overcrowding stress. By extrapolation, our descendants might be comfortable living in close proximity to 10 billion other con-specifics, thanks to enhanced social skills and technological accommodations.

Physical and Emotional Capacities

Fine Motor Control and Molecular Manipulation: Currently, humans have superior fine motor control compared to apes. Our descendants might be able to manipulate individual molecules with their bare hands, a truly remarkable achievement. Emotional Calmness: Apes are known for frequent conflicts, while humans generally have a much calmer, less aggressive nature. Our descendants are extrapolated to be even more emotionally stable, with the most volatile individuals appearing as tranquil as modern Zen masters.

Warfare and Conflict

Warfare: Chimpanzees, our closest relatives, engage in endemic warfare that results in significant casualties. Modern humans, while also engaging in conflict, suffer lower relative casualty rates, but with increased population density and technological power, absolute casualty rates for our descendants could exceed 10 billion per skirmish.

Conclusion

While these predictions are undoubtedly fanciful and largely within the realm of imagination, they offer a fascinating glimpse into what might be possible for human evolution. The key takeaway is that evolution follows no straightforward path, and the future is inherently uncertain. The only certain thing is that our descendants will continue to evolve, shaped by their environment, technology, and their own desires.

Remember, these are radical extrapolations and not likely to be the actual path of human evolution. Evolution is complex and non-linear, as mentioned in your original text.