A special session on ‘Darwinian Medicine’ will be presented at the next conference of the European Human Behavior and Evolution Association at Giessen, Germany, March 24th – 26th 2011. Abstract submission is open until December 10th 2010. More information can be found below and on the website.——————————————————————————
Abstract: Darwinian Medicine is a fascinating and developing area of evolutionary behavioural science which provides an invaluable perspective in the medical field. Innovations suggested by evolutionary theory have included treatment of Crohn’s disease using parasitic worms, withdrawal of AIDS medication for controlled periods, a greater understanding of antibiotic resistance and re-labelling mental disorders as being adaptive responses to environmental challenge.
Following presentations in this session there will be an open forum discussant where more general questions can be discussed in this exciting field.
If you would like to contribute to this session please quote ‘Darwinian Medicine’ in the comment box when submitting your abstract. As for all abstracts submission is open until December 10th.
Contact:
EHBEA 2011
Prof. Eckart Voland
Zentrum für Philosophie und Grundlagen der Wissenschaft
Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10, Haus C
D-35394 Gießen
Germany Email: [email protected]
Fax: + (49)-641-99-15509
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Darwinian Medicine
I am a public health physician and epidemiologist with a strong interest in evolutionary biology.
In 2009 I published with colleagues a “Fertility First” hypothesis in which we posit that the persistence of an ancestral insulin resistant phenotype, of which PCOS and Type 2 diabetes are modern manifestations, can best be understood by examining the major changes to the reproductive ecology of the human species over the last 20,000 years – first the transition from hunting and foraging to agriculture, and second the profound changes to human nutrition, fertility, mortality and longevity which followed the agricultural and industrial revolutions. Our hypothesis hinges on the notion that this insulin resistant phenotype, an adaptation to the largely meat based diet of our Late Pleistocene ancestors, persisted throughout the agrarian era because it conferred a fertility advantage during annual cycles of food shortage. This advantage, we surmise, turned to disadvantage with the progressive attainment of food security which began in Western Europe after 1750.
I am currently involved in a number of projects examining some other aspects of the evolutionary epidemiology of Type 2 diabetes and related conditions.
I would very much like to attend this conference and session.