Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 296 | Brandon Ogbunu on Fitness Seascapes and the Course of Evolution
38 snips
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.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Randomness in Evolution
- Evolution's randomness is its strength, lacking a guiding hand in variation or selection.
- Yet, predictable elements emerge, raising questions about randomness at the molecular level.
Levels of Selection
- Selection operates at multiple levels, from genes to species.
- The key is understanding the relative influence of each level.
Genotype-Phenotype Complexity
- Phenotype-genotype mapping is complex; multiple genetic routes exist for one phenotype.
- Phenotypes can be shaped by non-genetic factors, complicating the mapping of genetic information to traits.