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

296 | Brandon Ogbunu on Fitness Seascapes and the Course of Evolution

Nov 18, 2024

Brandon Ogbunu, an Assistant Professor at Yale University specializing in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, dives into the complexities of evolutionary fitness. He discusses fitness landscapes and how they help us understand adaptation in changing environments. The conversation highlights the role of mathematical tools in evolution, the unpredictability of gene mutations, and the impact of modern technologies like CRISPR. Ogbunu also connects evolutionary insights to medical challenges, particularly in understanding drug resistance, showcasing the need for a multidisciplinary approach.

01:15:42

Episode guests

C. Brandon Ogbunu

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The concept of fitness in evolution is complex, influenced by environmental interactions and the dynamics between competing species.

Understanding fitness landscapes, akin to seascapes, illustrates the intricate relationships between organisms and their evolving environments over time.

Advancements in genomics and computation allow predictions in evolution, impacting medicine while raising ethical concerns about manipulating biological systems.

Deep dives

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Intro

2min

Navigating Evolutionary Complexities

17min

Exploring Evolution through Mathematical Landscapes

3min

Navigating the Fitness Landscape

11min

Evolving Perspectives on Evolution

7min

Evolutionary Insights in Medicine

13min

Navigating Complexity: A Philosophical Perspective on Adaptive Systems

3min

Interdisciplinary Innovations in Genetic Engineering

24min

Biological evolution via natural selection is a simple idea that becomes enormously complicated in its realization. Populations of organisms are driven toward increased "fitness," a measure of how successfully we reproduce our genetic information. But fitness is a subtle concept, changing with time and environment and interactions with other organisms around us. We talk with biologist Brandon Ogbunu about the best mathematical and conceptual tools for thinking about the messy complexities of evolution, and how modern technology is changing our way of thinking about it.

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Blog post with transcript: https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2024/11/18/296-brandon-ogbunu-on-fitness-seascapes-and-the-course-of-evolution/

Brandon Ogbunu received his Ph.D. in Genetics and Microbiology from Yale University. He is currently Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale, and External Faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. He has been awarded a Fullbright Fellowship and was the Martin Luther King Jr. Visiting Professor at MIT. He has contributed to a number of publications, including Wired, Undark, and Quanta.

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