Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas

185 | Arvid Ågren on the Gene’s-Eye View of Evolution

Feb 21, 2022

Arvid Ågren, a Wenner-Gren Fellow specializing in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, delves into the captivating world of evolution from a gene's-eye perspective. He tackles Darwin's natural selection versus the 'selfish gene' theory, shedding light on the debate of what should be the focal point: the organism or its genetic code. Ågren also explores the complexities of gene functionality, the implications of natural selection, and the significance of understanding evolutionary dynamics in shaping biological narratives. Get ready for an enlightening discussion that blends science with philosophical insights!

01:25:47

Episode guests

Arvid Ågren

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Episode notes

Intro

5min

Darwin Meets Mendel: The Synthesis of Evolutionary Biology

9min

The Persistence of Genes: Functionality and Evolutionary Dynamics

4min

Evolutionary Biology Unpacked

16min

Exploring Positive Signals in Relationships and Evolutionary Insights

5min

Debating Evolution: Group Selection vs. Inclusive Fitness

12min

Unpacking the Gene's-Eye View of Evolution

4min

The Selfish Gene and Evolutionary Dynamics

8min

Genes as Agents and Organisms as Vehicles

24min

10.

Navigating the Complex Debates in Evolutionary Biology

3min

One of the brilliant achievements of Darwin’s theory of natural selection was to help explain apparently “purposeful” or “designed” aspects of biology in a purely mechanistic theory of unguided evolution. Features are good if they help organisms survive. But should we put organisms at the center of our attention, or the genetic information that governs those features? Arvid Ågren helps us understand the attraction of the “selfish gene” view of evolution, as well as its shortcomings. This biological excursion has deep connections to philosophical issues of levels and emergence.

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Arvid Ågren received his Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Toronto. He is currently a Wenner-Gren Fellow at the Evolutionary Biology Centre at Uppsala University. Previously he worked at Cornell and Harvard. His recent book is The Gene’s-Eye View of Evolution.

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