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The Orthogonal Bet: Unveiling the Complexity of Life: A Conversation with Philip Ball on ‘How Life Works'

Jul 5, 2024

Philip Ball, a science writer and former editor at Nature, discusses the complexities of life in 'How Life Works'. The podcast explores biology beyond genes, limb development, xenobots, disease, and molecular interactions, challenging deterministic views and redefining medicine and disease.

44:16

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Episode guests

Philip Ball

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Quick takeaways

Life is less deterministic than believed, cells are complex systems not machines.

New insights into biology suggest diseases are more about cellular dysfunction than genetic mutations.

Deep dives

Challenging Conventional Biological Metaphors

The podcast delves into the concept of challenging traditional biological metaphors, particularly focusing on how advances in biology have moved past deterministic views. It questions the common belief that DNA and genes fully define us, highlighting the complexity of cellular systems beyond simplistic interpretations. By exploring the non-deterministic nature of biology, the discussion emphasizes the need for new metaphors to better understand the intricate workings of life at a cellular and organismal level.

Intro

2min

Rethinking Biology: Beyond Genetic Determinism

25min

Unraveling the Complexity of Limb Development Through Morphogenesis

5min

Exploring the Creation of Xenobots from Frog Cells and the Implications for Cell Development

4min

Exploring Disease, Medicine, and Cellular Dysfunction in Cancer

4min

Exploring the Complexity of Molecular Interactions and Cellular Adaptability

4min

Welcome to The Orthogonal Bet, an ongoing mini-series that explores the unconventional ideas and delightful patterns that shape our world.

Hosted by Samuel Arbesman, Complexity Scientist, Author, and Scientist in Residence at Lux Capital.

In this episode, Samuel speaks with Philip Ball, a science writer, and formerly a longtime editor at the science journal Nature. Philip is the author of the fantastic new book “How Life Works: A User’s Guide to the New Biology.”

Samuel wanted to talk to Philip because he loved this book. It’s fascinating and deeply provocative, even for someone with a PhD in computational biology—though Samuel’s might be a bit worn and out of date—and yet he still learned so much. The book examines how new advances in our understanding of biology have led scientists to understand that life is far less deterministic than we might imagine. For example, cells are not really machines, as some might have thought, but complex and messy yet robust systems. And while DNA and genes are important, there is so much more going on, from the processes that give rise to the shape of our limbs and our bodies, to how all of this can have implications for rethinking medicine and disease.

Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christopher Gates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠George Ko⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & Suno