Evolution of the Skin

             

             In my prediction, I believe that in 3014, we will soon develop a more complex skin with more hairs and/or larger sweat glands. The skin is an extremely important organ in the body. One of the most important functions of skin is the regulation of temperature in the body. On earth, humans are currently burning off a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is being done by burning trees, burning natural gases (cars) and other activities. By burning CO2 into the atmosphere, it is being collected into the atmosphere where it forms a gas blanket. When heat from the sun enters the atmosphere, some of it gets reflected into space. Due to the gas blanket, the heat that is supposed to be reflected back into the space is trapped by the gas blanket and stays on Earth raising our global temperature. This is called the greenhouse effect because it is similar to how a greenhouse works (allowing heat from sun in but not out).

                The greenhouse effect has a large effect on the environment. One of the largest problems is the rise of global temperature. Because the Earth is on a tilted axis, the rise in temperatures can be different everywhere. As the temperatures continue to rise there will be a selection for a better temperature regulation in the body. The bigger sweat glands allow the body to sweat more which is used to cool the body off faster by evaporating the sweat which carries the heat off the body when it is feeling hot. There will also be a selection for more body hair. This body hair allows the body to trap any cool air onto the surface of our body. By selecting this, humans will be able to survive in the constant increase of temperature due to global warming.

                The increase of sweat glands will be due to the excessive release in the growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland. This causes the enlargement of the sweat glands. This also known as Acromegaly.  Acromegaly may be caused by a single substitution mutation of the AIP gene which is responsible for producing the protein called aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein. This protein is responsible for regulating the growth and division of cells and suppresses tumors. Mutation does not allow regulation of the release in the growth hormone. The excess release causes the increase in sweat gland size. The increase in the amount and length of hair is due to a substitution in the Lhx2 gene. This gene regulates the production and growth of hair in on the body. The substitution of gene will result in the body growing hair uncontrollably. 
             These mutation will first appear in people who already live in hot climates because they will be effected by the heat more quickly. People all around will soon be effected as the global temperature continues to increase. These mutations will be passed on to future generations because they are beneficial mutations,those who cannot will die due to heat stroke and those who can cool properly will survive and past the mutations to future generations.