Hermaphodites: Our destiny?

[Haltickling]

According to scientific studies, the number of human hermaphrodites has been increasing over several decades. Although scientists are still researching for the reasons, it seems that hormone-like chemicals (mostly in our water) are responsible. These chemical substances are non-toxic, and therefore not filtered out in water purification plants.

They are almost omnipresent in industrial countries: fabric-softeners, perfumes, plastic, cloth-dye, etc. These substances act very similar to human sexual hormones, and they seem to play a significant role in both male and female infertility. Additionally, the birth rate of hermaphroditic children has been increasing dramatically over the past few decades.

Despite the hermaphrodite's DNA, they have sexual organs of both sexes; for example, they have female breasts and often a small uterus, but also a penis and (sometimes internal) testicles. Or they may have a vagina and an almost penis-sized clit, and hairy yet female breasts. Science speaks of them as "intersexual", or "the third gender".

After alarming large-scale studies in USA, similar studies are planned in Europe now. The fact of hermaphroditism isn't dangerous by itself, however: hermaphrodites are infertile, and we have observed a constant decrease of birth rates in the industrial world.

Will we become extinct?

Source: German TV, ZDF, Abenteuer Wissen (a scientific TV magazine), 03/17/04

 

[His Divine Shadow]

Extinction from that would be unlikely, for the simple reason that humans will either a) Kill themselves off in some other fashion LONG before the populations is replaced by intersexuals; or b) the Human race will wise up and cease its pollution of the environment, either through new tech that fixes the problem, or simple forced action, once the populace realizes that infertile people will outnumber fertile ones. Things happen when the general public gets wind of something terrifying.

 

[dskodj]

Holly hell,....what a subject..scary shit!

 

[desdemona]

Well, in the animal kingdom, I've seen it in dogs and cats. I certainly hasn't curbed the over population there! And since the non-industrialized countries continue to reproduce exponentially, I don't think we're at risk of extinction from this particular source. Interesting stuff though Hal 🙂

 

[TKpervert]

oh geez Hal, sounds like someone had a publishing deadline to keep those govt grants coming. just wait til you read of that 1200 lb. fruit fly seen cruising at 40,000 feet off the Gold Coast.
HDS, you're dreaming.

 

[QtipSoftness120]

speaking of hermaphodites. Sleepaway Camp part 1 The ENDING scene ring any bells? sleepaway camp is a good series by the way. Anglea Baker😀

 

[MrMacphisto]

I think Desdemona has the right idea here... It doesn't matter what the First World does, the Third World will outnumber us in population even more in the coming decades. The citizens of the First World might be seeing an increase in lifespan, but the massive rate at which the Third World is growing will easily counter a hermaphroditic problem and even a pollution problem. Granted, the kind of environment we'll be living in is another story. Environmental laws are lax enough in this country to begin with, but China and India don't exactly have a great track record for environmental cleanliness either. The amount of pollutants, hormones, and/or chemicals in our food, water, and air will probably onset a number of mutations in our species. In this country, we've already seen an increase in thyroidal problems, diabetes, and respiratory ailments. Chances are likely that these trends will continue into the future, but the sheer number of Chinese, Indians, and Central & South Americans that are being born into this world will serve as a cushion for the continued existence of humans. Those of us in our early adult lives will likely see in our middle age and senior citizenship a world where 2 out of every 3 people are either Chinese or Indian. That third person will usually be either Central or South American or East Asian (other than Chinese). As for those of us not within any of those groups, we'll (relatively speaking) be statistical anomalies. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but it is something to think about.

 

[ShadowTklr]

Perhaps the Hermaphrodite is an evolutionary answer to the decrease in male/female compatibility. LOL.

 

[WraithTickler]

...or we could end up like Solaria from Asimov's Foundation and Earth...