by Morgan Carlson

Created on: September 13, 2009   Last Updated: September 19, 2009

In terms of sustaining human population growth, the planet isn't even close to a maximum capacity, despite the opinions of those living with a past mindset. Although the planet has experienced a recent boom in population growth due to advances in many subjects, other factors have already slowed the growth pattern, and many more will factor in to control the expanse, but it will not stop it outright.

Instead, the 6 billion - soon to be 7 - alive now represent a preview of times to come, and how that growth progresses in the future will be based on the actions undertaken in the present.

If humanity were limited to a natural growth scenario, the only logical road would be to eliminate all competing predators and encourage the growth of all potential food sources in order to support our growing numbers. The down side to that is already evident by the number of confirmed animal to human viruses that have infected those that were forced into the bush in Africa to feed on animals not commonly ingested.

In the past that would have only resulted in the deaths of those confined to a single village, but with the ability of world travel, that has created a global problem which will drastically limit population numbers everywhere. Because of this truth, the solution to growing populations doesn't have as easy an answer.

Fortunately humanity is gifted in its intelligence. Viruses, bacteria, plagues, diseases, etc, are all treatable after awhile, and already very serious microscopic killers of the past have been eliminated. Aside from this ability to treat illness and avert death (which regrettably adds to the growing population count), genetic research is being carried out that will make understanding the body and its needs even simpler.

In time and with genetic engineering benefits, people may be more biologically hardy than we have until now. This will mean that less of everything will probably be more, as our bodies will be able to process and use more of our food than we ever have before.

Unfortunately that future may be too far away to be beneficial to the numbers of the present. However, as the world is today, there is still a lot of room left for development, and while science and genetic tampering is unable to help our bodies directly, it is being turned towards our foods, making crops hardier to resist natural threats and giving them the ability to grow more in less space.

Domestic animals are also receiving the benefits of growth hormones to boost their maturity

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