1. As intellectual sophistication increases, general human fertility rates will decrease (because there is no need to procreate if a high level of intellect has been already achieved). The natural propensity of nature is to constantly increase structural and functional complexity and sophistication, and as a result consciousness, wisdom, and intelligence. This can now be achieved by means other than Darwinian evolution.
There have been some early studies showing a negative correlation between intelligence and fertility in humans (Kirk D. The fertility of a gifted group: A study of the number of children of men in WHO'S WHO. In The Nature and Transmission of the Genetic and Cultural Characteristics of Human Populations. New York: Milbank Memorial Fund, 1957, pp.78-98), leading some to suggest that there is a natural tendency for increased selection of genes associated with intelligence (Osborn, F. Bajema, C. The eugenic hypothesis". Social Biology1972 19 (4): 337-345). However, other studies did not support this.
More recent research suggests that nations with high IQs have, in general, lower fertility rates (Shatz, SM. IQ and fertility: A cross-national study. Intelligence 2008 36 (2): 109-111), although this may well be due to an increased medical and social sophistication of the country. Even so, one can hypothesize that a human-made situation (i.e. technology and medical/social evolution), apply pressure upon the Darwinian model of evolution, forcing a transition to another, post-Darwinian model (see human sperm section below for another example).
The human male has one of the worst sperm counts of any mammals. This could be due to problems with chromosome Y repair. As genes on the Y chromosome do not recombine, the repair of these genes becomes problematic over successive generations. Environmental pollution is believed to be one of the causes of a declining sperm count (te Velde E et al. Is human fecundity declining in Western countries? Hum Reprod. 2010;25(6):1348-53), although this decline has been criticized as a myth (Fisch H. Declining worldwide sperm counts: disproving a myth. Urol Clin North Am. 2008;35(2):137-46, vii).
Be that as it may, it may be argued that human-made environmental pollution causing a decline in sperm counts may be one of the natural reasons (natural because: evolution created intelligence, which created technology, which created pollution) that can force a transition from a Darwinian to a non-Darwinian model of evolution. As the DNA has increasingly limited options for transmitting itself from generation to generation, it may be that it switches to another way for increasing intellectual complexity, via a long-term exposure to technology and personal development in the same individual, resulting in an indefinite lifespan.
2. Human brain will gradually increase in size albeit by a small degree (technological and societal developments will supplement further intellectual evolution). Thus, there will be more caesareans births as opposed to natural births. This, in turn will favour a further increase in the size of human brain, as evolutionary obstacles (restriction by the vaginal canal size) will be removed.
3. There will be greater engagement between carbon/silicon interfaces (more biological - artificial interactions leading to further enhancement of sophistication of the human brain). Humans will make increased use of computers to create a hybrid human/AI entity.
For an example of recent research supporting this see: Dashi HT et al. Pattern Recognition in Collective Cognitive Systems: Hybrid Human-Machine Learning (HHML) By Heterogeneous Ensembles.: International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, WorldComp 2010. arXiv:1008.5387v1
Certain aspects of the transhumanist movement also promote this view. For details see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transhumanism. In addition, see arguments in favour of the Technological Singularity, for example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity.
4. As humans become more intellectually complex, same sex attraction increases, as the need for biological procreation decreases. There is limited research showing that there is a positive relationship between homosexuality and intelligence (Weinrich JD. Nonreproduction, homosexuality, transsexualism, and intelligence: I. A systematic literature search. J Homosex. 1978;3(3):275-89).
5. Human longevity will increase gradually: a greater number of people will live to 100 plus, and more to 120. We will see people achieving the age of 125 years and some the age of 130. This is because natural mechanisms will take over as intelligence increases, to force us live longer, Nature senses that it is then best to keep the organism alive than create a new one.
The following comments support this opinion:
Life expectancy and Fibonacci: Nature has designed us to live indefinitely
After studying tables of current life expectancy (life expectancy increase per decade, in years, based upon United States National Vital Statistics) I found embedded a virtually perfect Fibonacci sequence. A Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers as follows: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, ...etc, where each number is the sum of the previous two. See here for more details on the Fibonacci sequence: http://www.mathacademy.com/pr/prime/articles/fibonac/index.asp
To my knowledge, this has not been described before. This is important because, based on my ideas regarding Global Brain acting as a catalyst for promoting extreme human lifespans (http://hplusmagazine.com/2011/03/04/indefinite-lifespans-a-natural-consequence-of-the-global-brain/), it may help us predict with some accuracy any dramatic increases in life expectancy. For example, the model predicts that the current maximum lifespan of 110-120 years will be increased to 175 in the next 20-30 years.
In simple terms, the fact that life expectancy increases in a certain manner, and this manner obeys deep-routed and universal natural laws, indicates that it may be possible to:
1. Predict life expectancy in the near future. Based on the Fibonacci sequence,
a 90 year old today, can expect to live another 5 years
a 95 year old can expect to live another 8 years
a 103 year old can expect to live another 13 years, then…
a 116 year old can expect to live another 21 years
a 137 year old would expect to live another 34 years
a 171 year old would expect to live another 55 years
a 236 year old would expect to live another 89 years
a 325 year old can expect to live another 144 years,
and so on.
2. Question the presence of ageing and death in an ever-evolving intellectually sophisticated human (who is a valuable component of the Global Brain). Based on current facts, the Fibonacci sequence with regards to life expectancy ends abruptly when lifespan reaches the limit of approximately 120 years. Why is this so? Why should a naturally extending lifespan deviate from universal natural laws? Life expectancy should continue to increase as an individual manages to survive to a certain age. The presence of ageing and death could therefore be considered unnatural.
3. Support the notion that 'you need to live long enough to live forever' (see Kurzweil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantastic_Voyage:_Live_Long_Enough_to_Live_Forever, and also De Grey's 'Longevity Escape Velocity' suggestions http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/aubrey_de_grey_says_we_can_avoid_aging.html).
Those who manage to survive to extreme age are more likely to see their life expectancy increase even further, and so on, recursively. Kurzweil believes that this scenario will be achieved through use of technology. De Grey believes that this will be achieved via biological developments. I think that this 'live long enough to live forever' scenario will happen naturally (with minor input both from technology and from biological research). Those individuals who fully integrate their activities within the Global Brain will experience a natural-driven ever-increasing life expectancy.
For more details see https://acrobat.com/#d=MAgyT1rkdwono-lQL6thBQ