How on Earth Can Aliens Survive? Concept and Case Study

Explore the concept of robustness in evolutionary biology and its implications for complex diseases in this 1-hour 21-minute lecture by Aviv Bergman from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Santa Fe Institute. Delve into the evolutionary causes and consequences of robustness and its breakdown, both genetic and environmental. Examine how organisms maintain phenotypic stability despite perturbations, and investigate the mechanisms behind the loss of phenotypic fidelity. Gain insights into topics such as Darwin's theories, Shifting Balance Theory, probability theory, cultural evolution, and the epigenetic landscape. Discover how this conceptual understanding may lead to more parsimonious explanations for the emergence and progression of complex diseases, including the transition from tumor to metastatic stage.