Evolutionary Medicine: Microbes and Human Survival
Discover the complex dynamics between humans and disease-causing organisms, examining how their evolutionary interplay shapes modern health outcomes.
Discover the complex dynamics between humans and disease-causing organisms, examining how their evolutionary interplay shapes modern health outcomes.
Delve into the fascinating world of evolutionary medicine in this comprehensive 4-week course. Investigate how our evolutionary past shapes present-day health challenges, from fever and cough to cancer and allergies. Explore the intricate relationships between humans and microbes, and how changing environments influence disease patterns. Gain insights into biocultural factors affecting health risks and learn to apply evolutionary principles to address emerging global health issues. This interdisciplinary course, taught by experts in anthropology, biology, and medicine, provides a unique perspective on human health within a deep time and global context. Perfect for those interested in medicine, public health, or global health policymaking, this course offers a solid foundation for approaching complex health problems through an evolutionary lens.
Instructors:
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What you'll learn
Gain an applied understanding of evolutionary principles in human health
Learn the basics of the immune system and its evolutionary significance
Explore human population variation and its impact on health
Understand how changing environments influence disease virulence and transmission
Examine biocultural influences on human health
Investigate the co-evolution between humans and pathogens
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
PreRecorded video
Graded assignments, exams
Access on Mobile, Tablet, Desktop
Limited Access access
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There are 5 modules in this course
This course explores evolutionary medicine, examining how our evolutionary past influences current health issues. It covers topics such as the immune system, human population variation, and the impact of changing environments on disease transmission. The course delves into the co-evolution of humans and pathogens, discussing concepts like the "Old Friends" Hypothesis and vaccination. It also addresses emerging health threats, chronic diseases, and the application of evolutionary medicine to mental health. Throughout the course, students will gain an understanding of how evolutionary principles can be applied to tackle current and future health challenges in a global context.
Introduction
Module 1
Why do we get sick?
Module 2
Why does selection leave our bodies vulnerable?
Module 3
What can our evolutionary past tell us about our health in the present?
Module 4
How can evolutionary medicine be used to tackle emerging and future health crises?
Module 5
Fee Structure
Instructors
Pioneer in Lactation Science and Evolutionary Biology
Katie Hinde serves as Associate Professor and Director of the Comparative Lactation Lab at Arizona State University's School of Human Evolution and Social Change, where she conducts groundbreaking research on mother's milk and its impact on infant development. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Anthropology from UCLA, postdoctoral training in neuroscience at the California National Primate Research Center, and a faculty position at Harvard University before joining ASU. Her research has revealed crucial insights about breast milk's composition and effects, including how it differs between sons and daughters, contains over 1,500 proteins affecting infant development, and influences infant behavior through hormones like cortisol. She has received numerous accolades, including Early Career Awards from the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation and the American Society of Primatologists. Beyond her academic work, she actively engages in science communication through her blog "Mammals Suck... Milk!", created the popular March Mammal Madness outreach program, and co-authored "Building Babies." Her work has been featured in major publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, and Wall Street Journal, while also appearing in Netflix's "Babies" documentary series.
Evolutionary Biologist and Disease Resistance Expert
Silvie Huijben serves as Associate Professor at Arizona State University's School of Life Sciences and Center for Evolution and Medicine, where she investigates strategies to combat antimalarial and insecticide resistance. Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology and infectious diseases from the University of Edinburgh (2010), followed by postdoctoral work at Pennsylvania State University's Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. Her research combines fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and mathematical modeling to understand the evolutionary ecology of resistant organisms, particularly malaria parasites and disease-transmitting mosquitoes. She has received prestigious awards including the Science in Society – Branco Weiss Fellowship and a Marie Curie Incoming International Fellowship. Her lab's work focuses on optimizing disease control strategies while managing resistance evolution, using innovative approaches that combine field-derived samples with evolutionary experiments and mathematical modeling to better understand and combat drug and insecticide resistance in disease vectors.
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