- "The Selecting Organism” with Pim Edelaar

How can organismal choices drive adaptive evolution? Can plasticity act as a kind of selection?

In this episode, we talk with Pim Edelaar, professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemical Engineering at the University Pablo de Olavide, Spain. He’s also the author of the new book The Selective Organism: An Expanded Theory of Adaptive Evolution. In the book, Pim proposes that in addition to natural selection there might be a “second driver” of adaptive evolution. We discuss the book with Pim, explore how non-genetic inheritance and plasticity underpin the theory, and talk about what implications this expanded perspective has for research. If after listening to the episode you’re interested in reading The Selective Organism, the digital version is free to download.

Cover art by Brianna Longo.



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