How Evolution Innovates by Exploring Genotype Space | Andreas Wagner

Andreas Wagner is a biologist studying the mechanisms of evolution. Evolution not only generates novel innovations but does so repeatedly. For example, the eye has evolved independently around 50 times across different species throughout evolutionary history. How does evolution consistently discover such innovations? Andreas Wagner's research group explores the underlying structure of genotype spaces to map out the possible innovations that can arise. By examining how evolution navigates this space through genetic mutations, they aim to understand how valuable traits emerge. In this podcast, expect to learn whether evolution operates solely through DNA, how evolution is being studied through lab experiments, the mathematical structure of genotype spaces that evolution explores, whether DNA is the only medium for evolutionary processes, and more... Podcast Timestamps: 00:00 The Current View of How Evolution Works 04:06 How Mutations Create Variation 09:24 Male vs Female Mutation Accumulation 11:33 Evolution Before We Understood DNA 15:10 How Evolution Creates Complexity 17:58 Genotype-Phenotype Mapping 23:48 How Does Evolution Avoid Dead Ends? 28:20 How Does Evolution Explore Genotype Space to Innovate? 33:35 Scientists Exploring Genotype Space in the Lab 39:20 Why Do Genotype Spaces Exist? Find Andreas' Books: - Sleeping Beauties: The mystery of dormant innovations in evolution - Arrival of the Fittest: solving evolution's greatest puzzle