Robert Sapolsky | Father-Offspring Interviews Cheating, Fat Inflammation, Animals Lies | Robert Sapolsky Father-Offspring Interviews #79
Sep 25, 2025
Explore the fascinating world of infidelity beyond humans, as Robert Sapolsky reveals which other species cheat on their partners and why. Learn about visceral fat, its role in inflammation, and the health implications of different fat distributions. Delve into the intriguing question of whether animals lie, with examples from birds, chimpanzees, and corvids showcasing various forms of deception. Sapolsky also discusses how animals navigate their social environments, sometimes employing clever tricks to outsmart others.
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Social vs Sexual Monogamy Split
- Monogamy in animals splits into social versus sexual monogamy, so pair-bonding species often still have extra-pair copulations.
- Prairie voles show clear neurobiological mechanisms for social bonding, but real behavior can include cheating.
Vasopressin Gene Swap Changed Vole Behavior
- Larry Young inserted a prairie vole vasopressin receptor promoter into mountain voles and induced monogamous behavior.
- This gene-manipulation study linked a vasopressin receptor promoter to pair-bonding behavior.
Inflammation Helps Fat Remodel — Until It Doesn't
- Fat tissue contains immune cells and uses low-level inflammation for routine remodeling during weight change.
- In obesity the system overshoots, causing chronic inflammation, hypoxia, and dysfunctional 'zombie' cells.
