BIO220H1 Lecture 6: Lecture 6 Perspectives on Medical Evolution and Introduction to Aging
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BIO220H1 Full Course Notes
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Lecture 6 bio220 perspectives on evolutionary medicine and an introduction to. Aging: evolution an medicine, aging: proximate and ultimate causes, costs of reproduction, the evolutionary theories of aging, mutation accumulation, antagonistic pleiotropy. Definition: applications of evolutionary principles to the problems of health. Approach: asks why (ultimate) rather than how (proximate) questions. Five reasons why we are vulnerable to disease: trade-offs: structures and systems must balance conflicting demands, environmental change: environments change at a rate that exceeds our rate. Longevity vs. fecundity of evolution: pathogen evolution: pathogens evolve faster than we do, historical contingency, defenses: systems built for defense against pathogens and degradation come at some cost. Definition: progressive decline in somatic function reflected in reductions in fertility as well as survivorship. Manifestations of aging: general degeneration of the soma, impaired function, increased disease, mortality rate increases with age. Observation: we have evolved to age and die. Expanation: appears to be non-adaptive in the extreme.
