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

117 | Sean B. Carroll on Randomness and the Course of Evolution

Oct 5, 2020

Sean B. Carroll, a leading light in evolutionary developmental biology, dives into the messy world of evolution with rich insights. He discusses how randomness and chance play crucial roles, from genetic mutations to the larger evolutionary narrative. Carroll highlights the significance of regulatory genes and the interplay between adaptation and unpredictability. He also reflects on historical shifts in evolutionary theory, emphasizing that both chance and selection are essential to understanding life's complexity.

01:20:45

Episode guests

Sean B. Carroll

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

Evo-Devo: The Dance of Evolution and Development

12min

Exploring the Mechanisms of Evolution through Gene Regulation

3min

The Evolution of Genetic Understanding: From Darwin to Modern Discoveries

2min

Unraveling the Genetics of Evolutionary Adaptation

5min

The Evolution of Evolutionary Theory

9min

Unraveling Evolution: Insights from Paleontology and Modern Science

2min

The Impact of Chance on Evolutionary Processes

2min

Accidents, Evolution, and the Bond of Intellectual Giants

4min

10.

Randomness and Meaning in Evolution

25min

11.

The Intersection of Randomness and Business in Evolution

2min

12.

The Intersection of Genetics and Existential Thought

15min

Evolution is a messy business, involving as it does selection pressures, mutations, genetic drift, and the effects of random external interventions. So in the end, how much of it is predictable, and how much is in the hands of chance? Today we’re thrilled to have as a guest my evil (but more respectable, by most measures) twin, the biologist Sean B. Carroll. Sean is both a leader of the modern evo-devo revolution, and a wonderful and diverse writer. We talk about the importance of randomness and unpredictability in life, from the evolution of species to the daily routine of every individual.

Support Mindscape on Patreon.

Sean B. Carroll received a Ph.D. in immunology from Tufts University. He is currently the Andrew and Mary Balo and Nicholas and Susan Simon Endowed Chair of Biology at the University of Maryland, Vice-President for Science Education at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Executive Director of HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, and Professor Emeritus of Genetics and Molecular Biology at the University of Wisconsin. His new book, A Series of Fortunate Events: Chance and the Making of the Planet, Life, and You, explores the role of chance in the development of life.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.