The rockefeller university

Event Details

Type

Center for Studies in Physics and Biology Seminars

Speaker(s)

Yoav Soen, Ph.D., Professor, Weizmann Institute of Science

Speaker bio(s)

Traditional view of adaptation focuses on selection of adaptive variations without regard to how these variations come about in the first place (no consideration of emergence). And yet, every single animal is constantly undergoing newly forming variations in its epigenome, microbiome and even in its somatic genome. Many of these variations appear in novel combinations that are unique to the individual. Since every new variation is potentially harmful, it is not clear how every individual can tolerate large numbers of novel variations that are forming during their lifetime. We have previously hypothesized that every individual acquires new adaptations by undergoing stochastic variations under (existing) mechanistic constraints that suppress the likelihood of undergoing non-viable changes (i.e. reaching non-viable states). Our group is testing this hypothesis using experimental models of coping with severe conditions of stress mimicking unforeseen challenges. Experimental work-in-progress provide substantial evidence in support of emergent adaptation by constrained exploration (“improvisation”) during the lifetime of individual flies, as well as during the generation time of individual cells in culture. The feasibility of emergent adaptation of this kind is further supported by theoretical models of coping with “unforeseen challenges” presented to specific classes of complex systems. I will describe the conceptual problem of emergent adaptation and its hypothesized solution, present the experimental findings, and discuss the implications to our view of evolution. If time permits, I will also present and discuss the theoretical work-in-progress of emergent adaptation.

Open to

Public

Phone

(212) 327-8636

Sponsor

Melanie Lee
(212) 327-8636
leem@rockefeller.edu