Eliminate Sleep? Is evolution proof that we can't get rid of the need for sleep?

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A

Al Neri

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2002
5,680
1
81
Think about it.

If we were able to eliminate sleep - wouldn't it have been facilitated via evolution?

As it appears as humans as a whole, (not talking about specific age groups), our sleep necessities appear to have remained the same - we have not even even lessened the volume necessary... (as a whole, not age groups). People claim to be able to function on less sleep, but as far as I can find there is no scientific proof of this....

edit: also - almost all animals need sleep - the better majority of them - wouldn't evolution have "taken care" of that also?


right?
 
Arcadio

Arcadio

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2007
5,637
24
81
Evolution eliminates unnecessary needs. Sleep is necessary. Therefore, sleep cannot be eliminated.
 
Phokus

Phokus

Lifer
Nov 20, 1999
22,994
779
126
DUDE, OP, you just proved those crazy creationists were right all along! Hurry up and right your research paper before someone steals your idea!

:roll:
 
D

DisgruntledVirus

Lifer
Dec 26, 2007
11,782
2
76
Originally posted by: Arcadio
Evolution eliminates unnecessary needs. Sleep is necessary. Therefore, sleep cannot be eliminated.
Click to expand...

OP is saying that evolution should have let us evolve so we don't need sleep (or as much sleep). Sleep would become unnessary. Therefore, sleep could be eliminated.
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,381
17,935
126
Originally posted by: Don Rodriguez
Think about it.

If we were able to eliminate sleep - wouldn't it have been facilitated via evolution?

As it appears as humans as a whole, (not talking about specific age groups), our sleep necessities appear to have remained the same - we have not even even lessened the volume necessary... (as a whole, not age groups). People claim to be able to function on less sleep, but as far as I can find there is no scientific proof of this....

edit: also - almost all animals need sleep - the better majority of them - wouldn't evolution have "taken care" of that also?


right?
Click to expand...

Sleep = regeneration/recuperation period. Makes perfect sense in evolution. Try to explain rest/sleep with ID.
 
geno

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Yeah, and that damn death thing....wouldn't evolution have eliminated that, too?
 
M

Mr Pickles

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
4,103
1
0
I don't think half the people here really understand what point you are trying to make. Either because you weren't clear in your explanation, they are retarded, or they are too lazy to think about it and reply with something helpful. So instead you are getting idiotic replies. I certainly didn't fully understand what point you are trying to make but I want to. Please try and reiterate it. I'll make a stab at it though.

People being able to function on less sleep might mean that our culture has evolved instead of humanity itself. We have lots of energy coming from an unlimited supply of food and we're statistically overweight, which translates to more energy from fat when we need it. We're also doing less physical work to wear us out during the day. If you sit behind the computer I'll bet your idea of "functioning" on little sleep is far different than someone who tars roofs. I'm generalizing, but this theory you have is pretty broad and its hard not to.
 
N

NuroMancer

Golden Member
Nov 8, 2004
1,684
1
76
Why, evolution is cause and effect, so what is the stimulus for evolution phasing out sleep?
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,381
17,935
126
Originally posted by: Mr Pickles
Originally posted by: NuroMancer
Why, evolution is cause and effect, so what is the stimulus for evolution phasing out sleep?
Click to expand...

Progress at a faster pace.
Click to expand...

at the price of longevity. You would wear out at a much faster rate.
 
sao123

sao123

Lifer
May 27, 2002
12,653
205
106
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: Don Rodriguez
Think about it.

If we were able to eliminate sleep - wouldn't it have been facilitated via evolution?

As it appears as humans as a whole, (not talking about specific age groups), our sleep necessities appear to have remained the same - we have not even even lessened the volume necessary... (as a whole, not age groups). People claim to be able to function on less sleep, but as far as I can find there is no scientific proof of this....

edit: also - almost all animals need sleep - the better majority of them - wouldn't evolution have "taken care" of that also?


right?
Click to expand...

Sleep = regeneration/recuperation period. Makes perfect sense in evolution. Try to explain rest/sleep with ID.
Click to expand...

God rested on the 7th day. deal with it.
 
S

Skyclad1uhm1

Lifer
Aug 10, 2001
11,383
87
91
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: Don Rodriguez
Think about it.

If we were able to eliminate sleep - wouldn't it have been facilitated via evolution?

As it appears as humans as a whole, (not talking about specific age groups), our sleep necessities appear to have remained the same - we have not even even lessened the volume necessary... (as a whole, not age groups). People claim to be able to function on less sleep, but as far as I can find there is no scientific proof of this....

edit: also - almost all animals need sleep - the better majority of them - wouldn't evolution have "taken care" of that also?


right?
Click to expand...

Sleep = regeneration/recuperation period. Makes perfect sense in evolution. Try to explain rest/sleep with ID.
Click to expand...

Sleep was created to give burglars, rapists and murderers a fair chance to sneak into your house!
 
sdifox

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
100,381
17,935
126
Originally posted by: sao123
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: Don Rodriguez
Think about it.

If we were able to eliminate sleep - wouldn't it have been facilitated via evolution?

As it appears as humans as a whole, (not talking about specific age groups), our sleep necessities appear to have remained the same - we have not even even lessened the volume necessary... (as a whole, not age groups). People claim to be able to function on less sleep, but as far as I can find there is no scientific proof of this....

edit: also - almost all animals need sleep - the better majority of them - wouldn't evolution have "taken care" of that also?


right?
Click to expand...

Sleep = regeneration/recuperation period. Makes perfect sense in evolution. Try to explain rest/sleep with ID.
Click to expand...

God rested on the 7th day. deal with it.
Click to expand...

According to Christian beliefs, you are made in the IMAGE of God. Not made like god. Just because God can go at it for 6 day straight and then rest doesn't mean you can. You are most definitely not God.

Explain why humans slept before the advent of Christianity and still slept after Christianity.

 
GasX

GasX

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
29,033
6
81
It works this way. If someone was born with a mutation that allowed him to function at 100% at all times without sleep, his mother would smother him in his sleep after 3 weeks of profound sleep deprivation....

OK, let's go back a gazillion years to the early days of mammals and suppose a small rodent is born that is also able to function at 100% at all times. Would he have a significant advantage over his peers? I would presume yes and therefore he would pass that trait on to his offspring and we would now have a line of mammals that are neither diurnal nor nocturnal.

So why hasn't this happened? Two reasons:

1. Luck - this supposed mutation has just not happened yet. Mutations happen when they happen, not because there is a need for them

2. Impossibility - mutations are essentially small changes to an existing system resulting in significant differences. There isn't a mutation that suddenly gives you a third eye. Sleep is such an integral part of our metabolic function and well being, that a single or even multiple related mutations would not be able to result in a physiology capable of no sleep.
 
Arcadio

Arcadio

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2007
5,637
24
81
Never mind evolution. In a few decades, our technological advances will be so great, that we will be able to modify our own bodies to fit whatever needs are necessary. We will be in full control of our biological systems. If a person is about to die: no problem! just transfer the information in that person's brain to a blank template and continue living.
 
rbV5

rbV5

Lifer
Dec 10, 2000
12,632
0
0
Maybe sleep which presumably isn't available to lower animals evolved in higher animals to support higher level functions.
 
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