MIT computational biologist Manolis Kellis explores hidden patterns that connect DNA, evolution, and cognition, proposing a unifying framework that bridges biology, AI, and the essence of life. The conversation examines how genetic information functions like language and what this means for our understanding of consciousness.
- 00:00 - Introduction
- 02:05 - The Scope of Biological Unification
- 06:02 - Biology vs. Physics
- 09:31 - DNA as Life’s Language
- 13:45 - The Universal Compatibility of DNA
- 16:55 - Evolutionary Trade-Offs and Isolation
- 20:17 - Layers of Abstraction in Biology
- 24:51 - Beyond DNA: The Role of Histones
- 30:30 - Protein Folding and Function
- 35:26 - How Cells Interpret DNA Signals
- 40:24 - The Creativity of Language and Miscommunication
- 44:55 - Teaching and Simplification
- 51:09 - Evolution of Cognition and Centralized Decision-Making
- 57:35 - Vertical vs. Horizontal Evolution
- 1:04:20 - Specialization and Society’s Role in Evolution
- 1:08:50 - The Future of Biological Understanding
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