Adapting humans to a permanent 1.5g environment

Question

Ten thousand random adults have been magically transported from Earth to an Earth-like planet with a surface gravity of 1.5g. The planet is otherwise completely habitable (enough sun, the right temperature, right mix of amino acids in the flora and fauna, plenty of fresh surface water etc.) There is no coming back to Earth and there is no communication possible with Earth.

How long or how many generations would it take this group of humans to evolve to deal with the extra gravity? Gene editing isn't possible since no tech came with this group. It's just raw survival of the fittest.

The 10K people are all at least 18 years old and in reasonable health. It's a clean 50/50 split between male and female. There are at least 100 doctors and 1000 engineers in the group.

Out of Scope

Political concerns, warring factions, technology troubles, diseases not related to the extra gravity are all out of scope. The troubles with being magically transported to a new planet and starting civilization from scratch have been well covered elsewhere.

I've chosen 1.5g to be strenuous but survivable. Related question about higher $g$ environments.

1.5 seems to be about the native max limit the human body can take long term. No real adaptation is required to it's likely people will become smaller and stockier. — Mormacil, May 24 '17 at 23:07
A very important question: Does this planet have bodies of water, or any other liquid that's safe to submerge humans in? — Tigt, May 25 '17 at 01:31
The pedant in me can't help pointing out it's g not G! G is the one that can't be changed... ;) — komodosp, May 25 '17 at 07:44
Also you'd probably want a bunch of coaches and physio-therapists in the group along with those doctors and engineers... — komodosp, May 25 '17 at 07:46
It's not worth an answer, but I would add that over a few generations they'd probably become shorter and sturdier generally (possibly similar to fantasy dwarfs in appearance, although without any particular predisposition for long beards) — Hankrecords, May 26 '17 at 06:42

SippyCup · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-25T13:28:22.947

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The question of how many generations is moot; evolution is not a destination. If they survive, they survive. But what do they do to survive? And how does this affect the direction of their evolution over time? Before evolution can begin, natural selection of both individuals and cultural practices will be at play.

The first few weeks would be sheer hell for these unlucky transported souls. The change in gravity wouldn't kill them instantly, but would wear them down, hour-by-hour, day-by-day.

It would be hard on their hearts and circulatory systems. Their blood would weigh 50% more than on Earth, so their hearts would have to work 50% harder to push it around. The elasticity of their blood vessels would be put to the test. Varicose veins would abound. Many would perish by hemorrhagic stroke, and many more would be sporting blotchy, red skin. Feet would swell. Breathing would be difficult, as their diaphragms would have to push up against air and lungs that are now 50% heavier. Blood/oxygen levels would be lower than normal. Fainting and passing out would be common, and would often be deadly; they'd hit the ground with 50% more force. On top of this, their Earth-acquired reflexes and coordination would be hopelessly out of kilter. Bones would be broken, joints wrought, and ankles sprained.

On top of that, they would be extremely vulnerable to the predators inhabiting this world. On Earth, we were spear throwing, long distance running primates. On HeavyEarth, both running and throwing abilities would be severely handicapped. Catching food would be as probable as being food.

Many people would probably die in the first few months, if not weeks. Pregnancy would, in many cases, end up being deadly. The population would bottleneck.

Refuge would be found in salty water. The first generation would head towards the sea; floating would bring them relief from the weight of the world. Sweet relief from sore bones, joints and bulging blood vessels. Pregnant women, and new mothers would spend a lot of time in the water. Young children would grow up being very able swimmers. As on Earth, where the first human migrations followed the shoreline, so too would the transported humans. Net fishing would become a main source of food. The cultural practice of spending time in the water would be rewarded with longer life and more offspring.

Over time, adaptations would start arising that would be both advantageous to the gravity and also the sea. Stronger hearts, stronger veins, bigger lungs, stronger bones, webbed digits and upward pointing noses. Perhaps less hair and more blubber. Maybe even eventually an impressive dorsal fin...

edited May 25 '17 at 13:28

answered May 25 '17 at 13:04

SippyCup

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" hearts would have to work 50% harder to push it around" - overestimation. Blood's viscosity isn't going to change. And overcoming it is a significant part of what heart is working on. – Mołot May 25 '17 at 13:54
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This answer does not account for the extent to which human physiology adapts to the environment. Our bones would grow stronger in response to the stress, our muscles bigger and stronger - including the muscles of the heart and the muscles that constrict blood vessels - and so on. How much humans are able to adapt to 1.5g we don't know because it's never been tested, but it's highly unlikely to be non-existent. – Jack Aidley Jan 18 '18 at 15:16
@Mołot its not the viscosity that is the problem it is the vertical height it has to move it, the body is basically an upright tube of water which creates a rather drastic pressure gradient just on earth, and the heart has to overcome that. – John Apr 03 '20 at 03:54
@John height is only part of it. Viscosity is another part. Saying that increasing only one part by 50% would increase total by 50% is naive overestimation – Mołot Apr 03 '20 at 10:55
@Mołot Except lifting a column of fluid is how we measure pressure, it is literally a 1:1 scale. – John Apr 03 '20 at 12:04
@John but "50% harder to push it around" is not about the static pressure only. Try sucking some water from a glass using 1 square millimeter pipe and 1 square centimeter pipe and you'll see the difference, even if you will keep the same height – Mołot Apr 03 '20 at 13:20
@Mołot Blood is not static pressure, it has to be moved up against gravity, And your point is moot because human don't change dimensions drastically not survivable anyway. If you have trouble of this look at the adaptations giraffe have to have just to survive being as tall as they are there hearts are incredibly powerful. Their blood pressure is easily twice that of a short animal of similar weight, just to deal with fluid column pressure. https://www.deepdyve.com/lp/elsevier/an-allometric-analysis-of-the-giraffe-cardiovascular-system-002UMMeO0H If anything 50% more is an understatment. – John Apr 03 '20 at 14:47
@John blood is not static and that is my point. You say that only height matters. That's only true if blood is hardly moving — and that is only true in someone who is practically dead. In person who is alive huge part of the work is keeping up significant the speed against friction between blood and vessels. – Mołot Apr 03 '20 at 21:07
@Mołot I never said only height matters, just that increasing the column pressure increased the blood pressure by an equal multiplier. – John Apr 04 '20 at 04:25

score 3 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 16 '20 at 11:03

10,000 people

Survival situation

A percentage will be fit and healthy, they will hopefully just be clumsy, uncomfortable and tired.
A percentage will be unfit and overweight, they will really struggle quite a lot. If they're a Western group, this percentage could be quite high, many of them could die.
A percentage will have some sort of cardiovascular medical condition, this group will probably die quickly.

6 months to a year

Some sort of culture is established, acceptance of situation.

Group 3 are gone
Group 2 are either relatively fit or gone, some of them may have survived the initial transition better than group 1 due to energy reserves.
Group 1 if they found adequate food supplies before their own personal meagre reserves ran out could be adapting comparatively well.

They'll all be stronger and fitter than before, though as a species may need to rest more than on Earth, very few are carrying any extra weight round the waist. They may start considering having children by this point.

1st new generation

Possible high infant mortality, possible high maternal mortality, depending on culture and achieved technology level. Ideally vaccines and some immunity to local diseases.

Born into high gravity, they may not walk as early as Earth born children but they're the surviving children of the fittest and toughest of the 10,000. The evolutionary curve is going to be quite steep for this generation, but children adapt well. Could well have a lower life expectancy than on Earth just through extra load.

2nd new generation

They may not meet their grandparents, that constant high load is going to wear out hearts considerably faster. Now though they're the children of the survivors who, in their turn, were the children of the survivors. They were born to this. Effective adaptation to this new environment will only take a few more generations at most.

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered May 24 '17 at 23:43

The first generation should survive but have lots of problems to overcome strength wise and probably die fairly young of heart attacks.

But I would think the second generation would be adapted and fare better and each generation steadily become more adapted. Kids bodies are much more adaptable to environments as they grow in them than adults.

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered May 25 '17 at 02:22

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Humans are very resilient and adaptable. Humans have carved out a niche in nearly every ecological environment from the arctic to the arid desert. They have done so without evolving. A Himalayan human who lived all his life in a colder, low-pressure environment could live happily and reproduce with humans living on the plains of Africa.

The first generation would struggle to move for a few months. After that, musculature would build up, their endurance would increase and bone structures would adapt. They might have problems in their 40's or 50's with joint problems, vision problems, and circulation.

Within three to five generations, subtle differences in heavier bone structure, stronger joints, and increased musculature. The differences would amount to a new race (as in the minor adaptations among people groups we are called races) but still human.

answered May 25 '17 at 02:22

Andrew Neely

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3-5 generations? What evidence can you provide that supports those numbers? Any evidence at all? It doesn't matter what muscle ou build up, that doesnt transfer in DNA to your offspring. Just because a few generations have it bad doesnt mean we mutate to make it better. Jews have been cutting off foreskins for hundreds of generations, and each new generation stubbornly gets born with foreskin. To make a genetic change you need mutations for growing more muscle. These are not guaranteed to show up in 4-5 generations. They might never show up. – Innovine May 25 '17 at 21:22
You're still thinking about germ-line mutation. I was thinking along the lines of epigenetics http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/inheritance/ http://blog.episona.com/3-examples-transgenerational-epigenetic-inheritance/ – Andrew Neely Jan 18 '18 at 19:48
Interesting article, but lets wait until it is conclusively proven, not just speculation. – Innovine Jan 24 '18 at 08:53

score 1 · Answer 5 · edited Jan 18 '18 at 14:44

I'll focus on genetic shift; e.g. biological evolution.

It depends greatly on the technology and civilization level.

If people survive and live normal lives as-is, thanks to the engineers and city life, then no evolution will take place. Other issues will overwhelm any small effect of reproductive bias.

If technology is knocked back to pre-industrial times, child mortality is high, large families are needed for a mostly rural lifestyle, then children who are better suited will survive.

Now the question is how long will it take for useful varieties to appear? This is a complete unknown, but note that the human gene pool is very shallow and still shows the effects of previous bottlenecks — this might be why we invented technology rather than adapting to new environments! Note the difference: brown bears turned into polar bears; humans learned how to make warm clothes.

On the other hand, overall stature might be “easy” as a simple change in hormones. People might become significantly smaller over a period of a few generations. In this case, we are still talking 5 to 10 generations though.

Learning to make warm clothes can happen within a generation, turning into a polar bear takes just a little longer ;) — Separatrix, May 25 '17 at 13:30

Innovine · Answer 6 · 2017-05-25T21:52:39.507

It could take thousands of generations, it might never happen.

It doesn't matter much what happens to your body during your lifetime... those changes are not written into your DNA; which is the only thing passed on to your offspring. So even if you work out all day every day and become a bodybuilder, just like your father did, and just like our grandfather, there's absolutely no chance that your son will have an easier time of it.

My favorite example of this is that jews have been cutting off their foreskin for hundreds and hundreds of generations, yet each new generation just stubbornly gets born with foreskin again. And again. And again.

To make a genetic change requires a mutation, which is a random event. And in your case, probably very many mutations to make a stocky, muscled human with an advanced heart and circulatory system which can thrive in the increased gravity. Even if you breed any mutations that do occur, like the pedigree of a prized stallion, it could take forever as you wait for all the mutations you want/need to occur by chance.

Unfortunately, such a breeding program is the best case scenario, too. Modern humans have so much exogenetic factors that genetic mutations contribute almost nothing to our survival chances. We're born helpless and useless and underdeveloped, just to support our big brain. Because the brain learns culture and society, and culture and society improve your chances of survival more than muscles. (at least it did for many generations. The last few seem to have gotten more stupid).

Survival of the fittest is also survival of the most attractive, so even in the very unlikely event that all the right mutations take place, maybe your first squat, muscled, no-necked barrel chested dwarves are technically better suited for 1.5g, but they just aren't hot enough to pull some chicks.

Does anyone feel like reproducing?

"It doesn't matter much what happens to your body during your lifetime... those changes are not written into your DNA; which is the only thing passed on to your offspring." - while Lamarckism has been superseded, it turns out this is not completely true. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgenerational_epigenetic_inheritance — Radovan Garabík, Jan 18 '18 at 15:14

John · Answer 7 · 2018-01-18T15:38:10.140

~A few thousand to ten thousand generations, with the latter being more likely

It is basically impossible to say, mostly becasue we don't know what adaptations are necessary in detail and even if we did predicting the evolution of such things is speculative at best. Plus as has been said evolution is not a destination, there is no end point to adaptation, problems may well persist forever. Evolution is full of things we are just stuck with, like bad backs, from using things in ways they never originally evolved for, and different gravity would definitely fall under that.

That all said you can come up with a safe estimate for when said people will be physiologically distinct from other humans. In 2-3 million years we know a new hominid species can evolve so when in doubt go with that. That comes out to around ~10,000 generations as a safe estimate.

Also consider it took humans ~3000 years/~130 generations to evolve lactose tolerance after we domesticated cattle so there is your bare unbelievable minimum. You should increase that by an order of magnitude considering you are talking about a whole suite of adaptations even for a minimum.

score 0 · Answer 8 · answered May 25 '17 at 15:03

The only way evolution happens is if a certain trait makes it more likely for people to reproduce. Some other answers have answered that people would become short and stocky in a few generations, but that's wayyy to fast.

Let me explain. Being at 1.5g is about the same as gaining 50% of your body weight. So a 6', 160 pound person would have an extra 80 pounds on his back. After a short time, say 1 year, he will be used to this weight. His muscles will grow and he will be much stronger, faster, and have more stamina than when he arrived.

A 5'5" 110 pound man would transform into a 165 pound man. And just like his buddy, after a short time he will become stronger, faster, and have more stamina.

But the only way for evolution to occur is for one of these people to have more kids than the other. Is one of these people necessarily more attractive to the women of this society? No. Over the generation, neither of these people would have a decided advantage based on just their new weight. There are a thousand other things that are evaluated. Personality, success, etc. Assuming the colonists society is not too unlike our own, physical specs will take a back seat to other traits.

In conclusion, people would row to be much stronger than the average earth human fairly quickly, then not much would be different.