In 'The Selfish Gene', Richard Dawkins presents a gene-centred view of evolution, arguing that genes are the primary units of selection and that they behave selfishly to ensure their own replication. The book explains concepts such as kin selection, inclusive fitness, and the evolutionarily stable strategy, highlighting how these mechanisms can lead to altruistic behaviors in organisms. Dawkins emphasizes that the 'selfishness' of genes is a metaphorical concept, describing their evolutionary consequences rather than any intentional behavior. The book has been influential in shaping modern evolutionary thought and remains relevant today[1][3][5].
Jerry Coyne's "Why Evolution Is True" is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to evolutionary biology. Coyne presents a wealth of evidence supporting the theory of evolution, addressing common misconceptions and criticisms. He explains the mechanisms of evolution, such as natural selection, genetic drift, and mutation, and illustrates how these mechanisms have shaped the diversity of life on Earth. The book is written for a general audience, making complex scientific ideas understandable and engaging. Coyne's work is known for its clarity, its rigorous defense of evolutionary theory, and its accessibility to non-scientists.
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
Denis Noble and Michael Levin - two great minds in biology come together on Live Longer World.
Denis Noble is a renowned biologist and pioneer in systems biology, known for his groundbreaking work on the electrical activity of the heart and his influential contributions to the understanding of biological systems.
Denis is an advocate for taking a systems integrative approach to biology, as opposed to the reductionist gene-centric view that has dominated the field due to Neo-Darwinism.
The gene-centric view has failed us in advancing progress on many diseases, and we need to now take a systems based approach focused on functional networks within biological systems.
Michael Levin is an American developmental and synthetic biologist at Tufts University, where he is the Vannevar Bush Distinguished Professor. His research is focused on bioelectricity and he is my co-host for this podcast.
We discuss:
- DNA is not the blueprint of life
- Why biology’s reductionist approach is flawed
- The errors in Neo-Darwinism
- Epigenetic inheritance
- How to advance the cure of diseases
Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/dnoble
Find me: https://x.com/aasthajs
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Denis as Mike Levin’s hero
0:10 Denis’s journey to systems biology; cell voltage is a global property of the cell
3:45 Advice to young researchers pursuing systems biology
7:00 “Absolutely everything is wrong with Neo-Darwinism”
14:10 Epigenetic inheritance
19:12 Genetic vs. other information used by organisms
23:48 Biology textbooks have to expand beyond DNA in 50 years
25:03 Epigenetic processes are ubiquitous
28:58 If not DNA, what is the blueprint of life
36:15 Rewriting biology textbooks is fundamental
39:57 “A lot of time has been wasted” (in biology)
46:52 Darwin on the “Origin of Species”
55:38 “Unfortunate that Philosophy and science have diverged”
1:00:31 Importance of Functional networks; DNA does not predict disease
AASTHA, LIVE LONGER WORLD:
Twitter: https://x.com/aasthajs
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LINKS:
Michael Levin: https://twitter.com/drmichaellevin
Denis's book Dance to the Tune of Life: https://a.co/d/3hvh5JW
Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/dnoble
Michael Levin on Bioelectric Signals for Longevity: https://youtu.be/XboYI_wxDr8?si=WrQ_iI8ABbG6eibm
Live Longer World 
