Try to imagine a world without men. What hopes and-more likely-stereotypes do you use to build such a vision? Surprisingly, scientists are debating the evolutionary chance of male extinction, making such a world a possibility.
In short, advances in mapping of the human and chimpanzee genomes show that in the past 300 million years, the Y chromosome has gone from carrying the same 1,000 pairs of genes as the X chromosome to carrying only 27 X-related chromosomes, as reported in Nature. The only reason why scientists aren't certain if men are destined for an inevitable extinction is because the genetic loss appears to have halted about six million years ago (before many scientists differentiate between the species lineages of humans and chimps).
Of those 27 genes, 11 were already inactive, leaving only 16 useful genes on the Y chromosome when the species split. Since then, five of those chimps genes have grown obsolete. Humans are still clinging to all 16.
Why the discrepancy? Well-and feminists will love this one-male genes get voided because chimps are promiscuous whereas women are monogamous.
It appears that the wild promiscuity of the female chimp puts heavy demand on the males' sperm-making genes, thus undermining genes that are already duplicated on the X chromosome.
But most women don't mate with a gang of men when trying to conceive so the sperm-making genes in humans don't exert the same advantage, and men get to keep using all 16 genes.
Isn't that great, guys? The reason why our genes aren't nearing extinction is because women don't sleep around. Thanks, girls! But doesn't all that scientific jargon seem to suggest that the survival of the male species is indirectly dependent on female mating behavior?
To put it more bluntly, if women start to sleep around for a few million years, men might be on their way to extinction, as evidence seems to suggest. This gives the phrase "female empowerment" a whole new meaning.
The debate is clearly theoretical since nothing is likely to happen in the next few millennia. Nonetheless, it's more than a little amusing to imagine a stereotype-laden world without men.
This image is probably painted very differently depending on one's gender. Men might already feel expendable. Ever since phrases such as "a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" were coined in the 1960s and 1970s, some men have become convinced of their biologically disposable function in modern times. (It's funny how I can't think of any similar phrase regarding women.)
Can you imagine a world without men? A world where days are spent talking about problems rather than solving them; a world full of people who can talk for hours and, at the same time, are great "listeners."
I have no idea how women would feel about such a world. I would like to think that they'd be excited.
The sexual loss would be minimal-honestly, who would miss faking orgasms?
In today's world we have vibrators that talk; this brave new world would surely replace them with vibrators that "really listen."
The dollar bill would be stripped of George Washington's portrait and replaced with that of the other great American hero: Oprah. Car dealerships would arrange their inventory by color, and all parking spots would have to be enlarged.
Ice-cream parlors, therapists, shopping malls and criminal courts would all hit their business peak every 28 days.
And what a world it would be-a world where no one is afraid of commitment, if only there were someone to commit to.
But, sarcasm and stereotypes aside, let's be honest: it would also be a world free of war and one in which poverty wouldn't be a problem. Abuse-of any kind-would likely be eradicated, and education and healthcare would probably improve.
As much as it pains me to say this, it seems that if one sex had to go, the world would be better off if it were left with women. Of course, all of these ideas are purely theoretical.
In the meantime, ladies, just imagine the possibilities-
Emin Hadziosmanovic is a Trinity senior. His column runs every other Tuesday.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.