4. Molecular Genetics I

(April 5, 2010) Robert Sapolsky makes interdisciplinary connections between behavioral biology and molecular genetic influences. He relates protein synthesis and point mutations to microevolutionary change, and discusses conflicting theories of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium and the influence of epigenetics on development theories.
Stanford University
www.stanford.edu
Stanford Department of Biology
biology.stanford.edu/
Stanford University Channel on KZbin
/ stanford

[@JohnBastardSnow]

Sapolsky is a damn ninja. He moves forward faster than wind, without even stumbling or stopping once. At the same time he juggles with multiple disciplines and throws jokes that hit each time. And then you look and realize that meanwhile he also managed to get in your head and paint there a clear picture of what's going on.

[@DmSujaEntrepren]

this guy was born for this

[@CaliforniaGirl-qk5kq]

The wizard...

[@marjoryrainey5761]

That's talent!

[@fionafiona1146]

@@DmSujaEntrepren His adaptations fit his niche, wether post partum influence contributed isn't sufficiently excluded tho 😉

[@pauldriscoll6319]

@@fionafiona1146 I had to read this more than a few times lol.....

[@lomateron]

The man is a freaking expert in talking, nonstop with no mistakes, with a tranquil fast fluency. Like a river carrying a lot of water without any sing of turbulence.

[@silentbullet2023]

He’s memorizing the texts

[@jayshreedas8002]

@lomateron buoy you a poet

[@silentbullet2023]

@@jayshreedas8002 that makes sense

[@Wohodix]

Well he is not trying to convice people with emotions, but with methodology. He has years of practice and reflexion behind this class.

[@felixoupopote]

If only he would scrape off that revolting beard...

[@martoalcubo]

Listen, I'm just an artist who wants to listen something while painting. This is the best thing that has happened to me.

[@martisole6249]

I would also recomend the Atheist experience or Talk Heathen for the same purpouse. Pretty amusing and educational call-in shows

[@giannistsakalidis85]

same thing here, just with music. Practising guitar while listening.

[@fionafiona1146]

"Crime pays but Botany doesn't " is also worth some attention (before you value the scenery as much as the educational content), "the Thought Emporium" has also been turning out long form content, I enjoy.

[@Issacantoniosilva]

Saaaaaame

[@gammoron632]

Dude same sketching or doodling and even while completing assignments.

[@juliadulger9801]

Man I’m curious if he has any idea that people all around the world are still listening to his lectures like 10 or something years down the line. whoa

[@whatabouttheearth]

He probably gets drunk and checks the views just for kicks

[@self-righteousideologue9398]

@@whatabouttheearth - I get drunk and kick people too!

[@MrMikkyn]

these lectures are timeless

[@user-gj6rl7po9q]

@@self-righteousideologue9398nice

[@ultimaoculis6389]

Yeah he writes books, goes on podcasts and has an Instagram run by him and his daughter.

[@ryanw657]

I love KZbin, university lectures accessible to a high school drop out

[@thatdaddyal]

A very significant point! Kudos.

[@sprazer]

Dont let schooling get in the way of your education - Mark Twain

[@MovieStarPlanetlolzz]

exactly me right now, very glad this was uploaded

[@NaneuxPeeBrane]

4th grade dropout ....concurs.

[@rufuscrackle]

I've known several people who only became interested in learning after leaving school

[@Psychol-Snooper]

Watching a lecture is great, but reversing it when you drift off in thought, pausing it to think, or look up nucleotide, triplet genetic code or just see what a protein actually looks like is priceless. KZbin should make content like this a priority.

[@Wagonerli50]

Sapolsky is a damn ninja. He moves forward faster than wind, without even stumbling or stopping once. At the same time he juggles with multiple disciplines and throws jokes that hit each time. And then you look and realize that meanwhile he also managed to get in your head and paint there a clear picture of what's going on.

[@4philipp]

Apple Books was supposed to use that idea to create better, interactive educational material. Unfortunately creators of educational material don’t agree

[@Psychol-Snooper]

@@4philipp Wouldn't it be amazing if resources like Wikipedia were to not just give an overview of subjects but aim towards adding everything we know about the subjects?

[@patrickbeck3181]

This is a great comment. Thankful to Stanford for publishing and I couldn’t agree more about KZbin. This is where the algos should be pointing people.

[@gregmontgomery9726]

Agree especially a good lecture.

[@rr.studios]

_"You know puberty, it's not a big deal_ _sometimes you get acne, sometimes a penis_ _people just deal with it"_ He's got a way with words doesn't he?

[@rr.studios]

@Ismael Barrera lmao he said that too

[@SeliahK]

Yes, he really does. 🤣

[@rr.studios]

@@SeliahK lmao

[@SpankyTheHippo83]

"Puberty; sometimes you get acne, sometimes you get a penis." - Prof Sapolsky.

[@HebaruSan]

+SpankyTheHippo83 That story made me wonder why pre-pubescent males need testosterone at all. It sounds like you can get away without it, so why spend all that metabolic effort producing it, when you could leave it out till puberty?

[@LittleLeighVisual]

+HebaruSan Because it increases aggression which helps in finding a mate. I can imagine there are many other reasons too; you should probably look it up.

[@HebaruSan]

Little Leigh Why would you need to find a mate before puberty?

[@LittleLeighVisual]

+HebaruSan I can't imagine that testosterone occurs before puberty tbh. As fara s I know, the release of testosterone is something that marks the start of puberty in males. If this is incorrect however, then I can only speculate -- not being a biologist myself-- that in Homo Sapiens -- with out extreme pair bonding -- it would serve to begin the process of finding a pair bond before the male is ready for reproduction as females generally are ready to mate before males. I must reiterate, I am not a biologist, you would probably be better looking this up than relying on me! :)

[@103BlueBird]

+Little Leigh Androgens are present while in utero and play a very important role in the development of the gonads, they continue play many other important roles throughout your entire lifespan (not just puberty) including muscle development, bone development and of course reproduction.

[@CeliaHaddoncats]

I am caring for an elderly relative and thus unable to do the masters I wanted to (just not got the energy while doing this stressful behaviour). Human Behavioral Biology is what I look forward to each week. I take notes and then look up some of the papers (if they are avaiiable). I have one more of his books to read - done two.It is keeping my brain alive (I am 67). Thank you Stanford and Professor Sapolsky. This is one of the things that is keeping me feeling more or less sane.

[@jphanson]

Hey Celia Haddon, eight years after you wrote this comment. How are you doing now?

[@arhicluj2008]

Hey Celia. 9 years after you wrote this comment. How are you? :)

[@namelastname9580]

hihi celia, it’s been 10 years, how ya doin mate

[@theopioidepidemicohno7907]

Yeah Celia what the fuck. I didn't think I did you in that bad.

[@christopherreed7982]

She'd be like 77. She might have died

[@Martin-kc1xj]

I have binged-watched these lectures mutliple times, and I am fully aware that I do not retain enough to pass any exam, but when I listen to these lectures it makes me feel home. I keep finding hard sciences too cold and social sciences too... warm? Too romanticised? Anyway, you probably get the idea. This is right there in the middle, and it finally matches where I live in my head. It's incredibly comforting if not therapeutic. I really enjoy swimming in this universe. Thank you Dr.Sapolsky for making these and Stanford for putting these up for free! This is my Netflix.

[@Themultimediaguy]

I'm hoping it sinks in by listening. Way beyond my intellect but it's pretty cool.

[@qwertydog9795]

same 😅

[@ingridaholmes]

Such a great explanation. Couldn't agree more!

[@WinkLinkletter]

​​@@ThemultimediaguyProactive osmosis. That's my strategy, too.

[@RepublicanG8mer]

Stanford and MIT are really amazing. They are without a doubt the best universities in the world. They care so much about educating the world, that they are willing to put their courses on the internet for free, so that ordinary people may become knowledgable. Thank you for these courses!

[@LittleLeighVisual]

Yale do it too!

[@Xasperato]

You don't need to be a brown nose about it.

[@konspatl]

Yes...that's why they do it. xD

[@pipi3222]

..u´d be amazed about how many (bright) doctors do that..

[@groomedtodie]

Videos like these started out as tools for students and a form of advertising for the school, as in, "Look at the great professors and lectures we provide." I'm sure students of past generations would have killed for this technology though. No more depending on notes scribbled half asleep in an early AM class or stressing about missing a day or two when ill. Honestly, if I were enrolled in any of these courses, I would watch them all ahead of time so I could focus on homework and have the real lectures to reinforce everything. But you're right, it is nice that they've taken the time to upload full courses. When universities first started doing this, they'd upload a lesson or two and the rest would be on their private servers. I guess they finally acknowledged the public interest and free bandwidth through KZbin. Doesn't hurt that he's also an excellent speaker and very good at making sense of these concepts.

[@torietorreano5214]

Here's something to consider: How lucky are we that we can actually listen to somebody as intelligent and eloquent as this man who literally is educating some of the most educationally privileged people in the world? I'm really grateful for this, because I can't afford to go to college, because information is so valuable to me, more valuable than money, and I truly enjoy having different viewpoints that challenge my belief structure. This guy is so engaging, so intelligent and yet so gentle when he disseminates so much information. He truly wants to educate people, so he is truly in his own element. We're lucky to live in a time we can actually enjoy this kind of information because we want to, not because we have to, not because anybody told us to, but because we want to enrich our lives. Anyway, everybody have a great day!

[@galadrael]

I think you will also apreciate the YT channel of dr #RobertMorsend, just give him a try

[@torietorreano5214]

@@galadrael thank you! I appreciate it!

[@kristinar.6600]

His style of speaking really helps adhd heads to keep listening! New experience!

[@justadjustor8993]

🙋 Same here!! 🌌

[@ianaliciaperry5243]

Yes!!

[@matheusazevedoC]

listen to the lecture of Patrick winston about how to speak. Robert sapolsky uses a lot of technics to teach. He is really clear, he starts this course telling you the basis of what will u learn and how to learn it. And always repeat a lot of times. Even give examples when gets trickier. The best thing is that this is on youtube. So we can pause. For me with dislexya this is so perfect to study!

[@MsJillyvanilly]

Yes! He speaks with the perfect speed and flow to keep a distractible brain focused

[@avidachs4434]

same! i have crippling adhd and although i need it to be on x2 speed, his teaching style is one of the only ways i ave been able to learn

[@Josh-fs2bh]

These lectures helped me recently decide to pursue a degree in Biochemistry! Free lectures of high quality such as these is so valuable to the public. Thank you very much for that.

[@bob_412]

It is 3 AM and i can't stop listening to this guy, and i have to go to work tomorrow....

[@davidbudo5551]

4:30am for me, but luckily, I don't have to work tomorrow.

[@andreeazamfir9713]

Duuude....how are now on your job?

[@philipbannor3281]

* today... :)

[@prashantgarg9570]

i love it!

[@zoeysvlogs]

Oh im not alone it's 04.30am and im watching this and also i have a class at 08.30am but idc

[@MrCoolman742]

It's incredible how he's so informed on so many different fields of study thus allowing him to explain human behavior from the micro to the macro with ease

[@TonySoprano55]

Wow, how is it that just 20 minutes of listening to this Man has educated me more than two weeks of class with my current professor

[@TonySoprano55]

Thanks these videos are gold

[@danielledoyle434]

TonySoprano55 He is very user-friendly.

[@user-ur5sc3tg8x]

Because he actually makes you want to listen to him.

[@Psychol-Snooper]

Love of their subject. Daily exposure to some of the greatest minds in the world. Quality of education, AND probably somewhere between 20-50 IQ points.

[@trouty7947]

The more you understand a subject, the better and more compact you can explain it. He definitely has research level knowledge of the field and is giving intro classes. So, along with a bit of creativity, he can distill a *lot* of information into bite size and understandable chunks. The down side is your brain gets tired because it's just so much information and what feels like almost every other word is actually very important lol.

[@conegallery]

What's interesting about how Robert Sapolsky teaches is that although he is only talking about a specific number of subjects per lecture.... the subjects he is introducing are packed with very complicated thoughts, if you don't know anything about the subjects in the first place. Once you listen to the lecture the first time, you can then re-listen, and this allows you to now have a basis for re-understanding and be able to better grasp what he is talking about.

[@PrinceKoopa]

I disagree. This assumes that everyone learns at the same pace, and in the same way.

[@WinkLinkletter]

I was thinking similarly since I have taken no courses which would serve as any sort of introduction or preparation for this material. An awful lot is making total sense, and I'm drinking it in like an oasis spring, but another review would probably help me with better term retention, for instance, or choosing side publications to read. And I'm sure there's a concept or two I didn't grasp in full (unlike, apparently, our illustrious 'PrinceKoopa').

[@yung-chilan2261]

A kindly reminder, for wobble base pairing to happen, it is usually the third base that differs, rather than the second. Check any genetics textbook and you will find me correct. Nonetheless, I enjoy Dr. Sapolsky's lectures a lot. I play them as some sort of podcast and it works wonder. Thanks a lot for putting these lectures up here.

[@Summer-uq1vr]

as a 14 year old who knew the 3rd is usually least consequential, threw me off a little but i assumed i mustve misunderstood the weel from the book i read when i was 11 since that was blatantly the most obvious explanation, but im so glad you mentioned itXD i wouldve taken sapolsky at his word haha, i supose this is a little reminder on questioning my sources haha

[@SannaJankarin]

@@Summer-uq1vr I presume you have higher than average intelligence.

[@muhammedassan2288]

28:58 "and you've just given away the punchline, you creep" 😂😂😂

[@CodepageNet]

i felt kind of bad for the person :-)

[@ezrankala]

I really enjoyed a laugh 🤣

[@sarawest7075]

Right? That was hilarious

[@sarawest7075]

@@CodepageNet me too

[@KristalHeyrosa]

I love how this professor injects humor in his lecture. Listening to this I find science really cool and genetics - awesome! I missed going back to school. It's interesting how he relates molecular genetics to the study of human biology and disease. How does the cell choreograph the events of cell division so that only one copy of each gene is passed on to the next generation? By what processes do genes become altered to provide the raw material for evolution? The possibility of finding answers to such fundamental questions makes molecular genetics an exciting field of biology. Good job Stanford.

[@A.K.00]

@@airkuna have you?

[@airkuna]

@@A.K.00 :D no, i like girls only, so i would see what's under your skirt! your'e a girl , right?

[@conegallery]

I find Robert Sapolsky to be a very inspirational lecturer.. Just the enthusiasm in his voice alone keeps the information he talking about more interesting.

[@roobookaroo]

The driving force is not intellectual, it is emotional. He is passionate about his subject. Knowledge came later, but passion was first and remained the driver.

[@ivycao5394]

meanwhile, my biology teacher only knows how to read off the slides and can't answer half of my questions.

[@rijin9460]

That's a world wide scenario

[@cmingo85]

Hang on in there buddy! Read your own way! try not to make an arse of him or her... like I did... that didn’t work out well for me in high school BIO.

[@shaamilthattayil]

Like Socrates said: I can’t teach them, I can only make them think.

[@xXRandomPianoXx]

Study by yourself

[@Wohodix]

Well work toward improving your education system. My bio teachers all have been epic (i live in france ) and i was not in some private high rated school , it was public school located between poor neighboor and middleclass one. Improving public school is either increasing tax (wich lots of people will bitch about) or better distribution of it. I heard that in the Usa, public school funding is related to income of the area... Wich is obvioulsy a big problem. It should be equally distributated by the state at least ..

[@JurijFedorov]

He was unknown by me a year ago. But today he is one of the biggest names I know.

[@growingtreecreations2900]

I love having access to these lectures. Thank you Stanford for making these accessible to the public. I have always been interested in why people do what they do... I remember when I was about 10, I asked someone why 2 people can have the same experience and respond in such different ways. I was referring to siblings with alcoholic parents- why might one become an alcoholic while the other might stay away from alcohol. Both might say its because their parents were alcoholics that they either followed that path or avoiding it. This kind of thing always intrigued me. Later in college and through research(I never went to high school), I gained more understanding of biology. Biology fascinates me as well. This lecture series brings the two together seamlessly and holds my attention extremely well. I have been pondering returning to college to study something in the realm of biology for quite some time. After getting a concussion early this year, I've become almost obsessed with understanding how this intricate machine we call the human really works. I'm especially interested in how body & mind interplay. How internal is affected by external. How physical is affected by mental, and how mental is affected by biological. This series is filling in some gaps in my understanding & I can't express enough how much I value that. So, thank you again for making this available. Thank you, Robert Sapolsky for making it so engaging.

[@JoJoRock197]

I paid more attention to 4 videos of this professor speaking than I did to all of my professors in all of undergrad and grad school combined.

[@cursivedubline5]

I have a Molecular Biology class for my first year of medical school here in France. It's absolutely fascinating. Thank you, Stanford; when I start my winter break next week, I'll have these wonderful videos to recapitulate the semester with.

[@easonvictor3749]

How did it go?

[@cricketjam]

I only took English and Pscych in College and as interdisciplinary studies for my animation career, but just taught myself how to animate online. I love that I can continue to learn even now that I'm full time.

[@cralston800]

this reminds me of my professors I had a Rutgers. But having now graduating I have been looking endlessly to gaining more detailed knowledge on topics I have already learned about. He is amazing!

[@LittleLeighVisual]

+Carla Ralston He sure is! There is a lecture about what makes us human that Sapolsky also did; if you like this you should check it out!

[@shphrd1]

You did a great job and service to us lay learners out here, Robert Sapolsky.

[@coverturtle]

And Stanford U.

[@fly3513]

I sincerely respect him, he is such a good teacher too.

[@AzureAzreal]

The middle nucleotide point mutation is actually the most likely to change the amino acid. The third nucleotide point mutation will code for the same amino acid, on average, 69% of the time.

[@nate-manlovesgland2347]

Why is this?

[@venusmarierojas]

Agree, I had to actually pause at that part

[@hansongnaily]

Thanks for the corrections

[@HClipsIndustrialComplex]

@@nate-manlovesgland2347 this allows for mutation to occur without thw change of codon which is important as mutations can have negative effects on function. Having some room for error is ideal.

[@temeryn3312]

If this is him just glossing over the basics I can just imagine the details that are in his head, what the advanced students/studies get to hear/learn. Amazing! (and lucky them, the advanced students)

[@markkeeper7771]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🧬 Evolution and Criticisms - Overview of the course focus on interdisciplinary connections between behavioral biology and molecular genetics. - Criticisms of the heritability and adaptation concepts in the evolution of behavior. - Introduction to the importance of molecular biology in understanding evolution. 03:37 🧬 Sociobiologists' View on Heritability - Sociobiologists and evolutionary psychologists emphasizing heritability in behaviors. - Use of structured models based on genetics to explain behavior. - Molecular biologists' contempt for the sociobiologists' approach. 04:41 🧬 Molecular Biologists' Perspective on Evolution - Shift to molecular biology's perspective on evolution. - Emphasis on genes as molecules, specifying proteins, and their role in shaping behavior. - Introduction to the central role of proteins, DNA, and the flow of genetic information. 08:00 🧬 Proteins, DNA, and Shape - Explanation of the critical relationship between DNA sequences, protein shapes, and functions. - Importance of protein shape in interactions, illustrated by the "lock and key" analogy. - Exploration of how amino acids, proteins, and DNA contribute to the diversity of shapes. 10:45 🧬 Central Dogma of Life - Introduction to the central dogma: DNA to RNA to protein. - Overview of the flow of information and the significance of DNA as the starting point. - Mention of the violation of the central dogma with the discovery of retroviruses. 13:37 🧬 Importance of DNA Mutations - Discussion of mutations, focusing on the consequences of changes in DNA. - Explanation of point mutations, deletions, and insertions. - Emphasis on the potential impact of mutations on protein function and downstream consequences. 23:34 🧬 Microevolutionary Change - Overview of microevolutionary change resulting from mutations in proteins. - Discussion on how mutations affect the efficacy of proteins. - Connection between protein function and microevolutionary changes in the context of evolution. 24:58 🧬 Genetic Mutation Impact on Enzyme Function - Genetic mutation example: Phenylketonuria (PKU). - PKU results from a classical point mutation in a gene coding for an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into a safer form. The mutated enzyme loses its function, leading to the accumulation of toxic phenylalanine and causing neurological damage. 26:24 🧪 Hormonal Mutation: Testicular Feminization Syndrome - Example: Testicular Feminization Syndrome (TFS). - TFS involves an androgen receptor mutation, leading to insensitivity to testosterone. Despite high testosterone levels, individuals with TFS develop a female phenotype. This highlights the role of receptor mutations in gender expression. 30:08 🧬 Mutation in Testosterone Biosynthesis - Disease example: Mutation in testosterone biosynthetic enzymes. - Mutations in enzymes involved in testosterone production can result in individuals born phenotypically female with extremely low testosterone levels. Puberty triggers a surge in testosterone, causing a transition from female to male. 34:50 🧠 Neurochemical Signaling and Anxiety - Genetic variation in benzodiazepine receptors. - Variability in benzodiazepine receptor genes contributes to individual differences in anxiety levels. Examining these variations provides insights into the genetic basis of anxiety-related traits across different species. 40:01 🧬 Evolutionary Implications of Genetic Changes - Fox P2 gene as an example. - Analysis of the Fox P2 gene demonstrates how single base pair changes, driven by positive selection, can lead to significant evolutionary differences, especially in traits related to communication and language. 47:37 🧬 Genetic Relatedness and Evolutionary History - Clarification on genetic relatedness. - Sharing 50% of DNA with siblings and 98% with chimpanzees is not contradictory. The percentage reflects different aspects of genetic relatedness-siblinghood involves shared alleles, while the similarity to chimps highlights evolutionary history. 48:35 🧬 Genes and Genetic Similarities - Genes specify traits like antlers, dorsal fins, petals, pistils, and more. - Different species may share genes coding for similar traits, leading to genetic similarities. - The human-chimp genome comparison highlights a 98% similarity in genes coding for similar traits. 50:01 🧬 Types of Genes and Variants - Genes can come in different flavors or variants. - Discussion on the diversity of genes and the variations in traits they code for. - Highlighting the importance of understanding different versions of particular genes. 51:28 🧬 Evolution, Genetics, and Political Themes - Point mutations and gradual changes lead to genetic advantages in terms of evolution. - Emphasis on the role of competition in the evolution of behavior and species. - Connection between gradualism in evolution and its intertwined political and philosophical implications. 52:26 📉 Gradualism vs. Punctuated Equilibrium - Introduction to the punctuated equilibrium model by Stephen Jay Gould and Niles Eldridge. - Gradualism challenged; long periods of stasis punctuated by rapid evolutionary changes. - Exploration of the political themes associated with the two models and their contrasting worldviews. 55:07 🐚 Punctuated Equilibrium and Paleontology - Gould's punctuated equilibrium influenced by paleontology and fossil records. - Gaps in the fossil record lead to the idea of long periods of stasis and sudden evolutionary changes. - The role of paleontologists in tracing evolutionary lineages using fossil records. 56:58 🔗 Molecular Genetics and Gene Structure - Introduction to the modular construction of genes with exons and introns. - Discovery of splicing enzymes and their role in generating different proteins from the same gene. - Implications for tissue-specific gene expression and the combinatorial possibilities of protein variations. 01:07:41 🔍 Combinatorial Possibilities of Gene Expression - Baltimore's insight into the combinatorial possibilities of gene expression. - Discussion on the modular basis of gene construction leading to diverse protein outcomes. - The shift from one gene, one protein, to one gene generating multiple proteins. 01:11:54 🧬 Non-Coding DNA and Junk DNA - Discovery of non-coding DNA and the realization that 95% of DNA is non-coding. - Challenges to the notion of "junk DNA" and the quest to understand the function of non-coding DNA. - Recognition of the potential significance of non-coding DNA in genetic processes. 01:13:19 🧬 DNA Regulation Overview - DNA sequences are not the starting point of the central dogma of life; instead, they serve as the readout under the control of various factors. - 95% of DNA is dedicated to regulating genes, introducing the concept of regulatory sequences upstream from genes. - Promoter and repressor sequences are stretches of DNA coding for switches, influencing the activation or deactivation of gene transcription. 01:15:34 🔄 Transcription Factors and Gene Expression - Transcription factors are molecules, usually proteins, that bind to specific DNA sequences (promoters) and activate or inhibit gene transcription. - Different genes can share the same promoter, leading to the activation of entire networks of proteins with functional similarities. - One gene can have multiple promoters, responding to different signals, allowing for versatile gene activation in various contexts. 01:19:19 🌐 Environmental Regulation of Gene Expression - Gene expression is regulated by environmental factors, either within the cell or from external sources like hormones or chemical messengers. - Environmental signals, such as low energy levels, can activate transcription factors, influencing the transcription of genes related to energy regulation. - Hormones, like testosterone, can travel through the bloodstream and affect gene expression in distant cells, showcasing the impact of external environments. 01:24:33 🔄 Contextual Significance in Gene Expression - The most interesting aspects of DNA lie in the regulation of when genes are turned on or off, not just the properties of the proteins they encode. - Emphasis on the modular ability of one gene to generate diverse proteins based on different contexts, introducing "if-then" clauses in gene expression. - Contextual regulation, rather than the protein's intrinsic qualities, adds complexity and richness to understanding genetic information. 01:27:23 🧬 Chromatin and Epigenetic Regulation - Chromatin, the structural stabilizer of DNA, plays a crucial role in regulating access to DNA sequences by transcription factors. - Chromatin remodeling, influenced by environmental factors, determines whether transcription factors can access DNA, adding another layer of regulation. - Epigenetics, focusing on heritable changes in gene function not caused by alterations in DNA sequence, introduces the concept that development is all about epigenetics, not just genetics. Made with HARPA AI

[@mwgreen9]

How can one guy be so smart, AND be able to share his knowledge..?? Truly flabbergasting....

[@peposlava]

Thanks, now I know a new word!

[@noahbodhi]

1:02:45 “evolutionary jerks” vs “creeps” (punctuated equilbrium-ists vs gradualists) wit was perfect

[@George-bs3nb]

What a outstanding gift of access to this highly motivated educator. Thank you Dr. Sapolsky!!!

[@PrinceKoopa]

The real gift is in the comments section for me 🎁

[@groomedtodie]

This lecture answered so many questions I was left with after completing biology in high school. Why are our school all 20 years behind? That's the new question.

[@LittleLeighVisual]

+groomedtodie Because school is about educating people just enough to get them into the workforce. Economy is more important than intelligence to the 'powers that be'; can't have everyone running around thinking while there is work to be done ;)

[@senselessnothing]

Sapolsky goes on and on about mutations that rarely happen and misses the behavioral part of the course.

[@senselessnothing]

Classical and analytical mechanics are very easy subjects if one is a potent student, sure modern students are too dumb to get it even though 240 years have passed since the subject matured. These people are studying biology for a reason.

[@kuhataparunks]

Why aren’t school students inquisitive enough to procure their own books and study? Hmmmmm.... do we blame nuclear family or “society”? Which one is easier to blame?

[@senselessnothing]

Half the population has below average IQ, most are below 115, they are not smart and patient enough for the elaborations of books. I've seen so many people go through books and learn nothing.

[@Corpsefury]

This teacher is a revelation for me, I think ill watch everything I can from him whenever I can. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@maryam.a7793]

Are you still alive?

[@rayknutson7805]

Watching this in 2021! Absolutely incredible, I can't stop learning.

[@brianstephens8337]

This is the first one in the sequence where I had to rewind to double-check my understanding. Even then, it only took me two listens to get something well outside my expertise. Terrific stuff, lucidly explained. Things like this really make me believe again in the old notion of the internet as a repository for human knowledge.

[@PrinceKoopa]

That's awesome 😎 what's your area of expertise?

[@FRUMindsEye]

"And that's how you get evolutionary jumps" right at the end. What a cliffhanger!

[@SisterSunnyFreeSpirit]

Grateful to get this edu and adding Sapolsky to my Teacher/Master/Guru/Swami list!!!

[@TheOriginalJAX]

a Decade down the line and this stuff is still relevant as ever.

[@baussier134]

Why wouldn't be?

[@Charlie_Yu]

I'm an engineering student and hasn't taken a bio class since sophomore year of HS, I wish I found these videos sooner

[@JohnBDoe]

Thanks, Robert. I had you for a week in '87-'88 first year survey, and have enjoyed following your books and on KZbin over the many years. Hearing you tell all about the baboons helped make Stanford worthwhile.

[@hudson2861]

Listening to him is like listening to a symphony. Wonderful.

[@jeffreyhollister1149]

I was the highest graded students in my science classes. I was a borderline genius and psycho. The students in higher learning have such an opportunity in this age. I hope my work will some day effect the stars that these students can be. What a venture. Especially in biology and human development. Find the stars achievers of this incredible future

[@lunabeekhuizen8858]

Damn, these lectures have made me rediscover how much I love learning. School being too easy and boring pretty much beat that out of me. Now I know again what it's like to actually be curious!

[@snackattaackHD]

High quality education for all. More of this is exactly what the world needs.

[@PrinceKoopa]

Speak for yourself 😜

[@abdushakurally6181]

It's real amazing listening to this guy, damnnn . He clarify things every straight and knock well in the head.

[@cindyr5056]

What a privilege to be able to watch. Professor Sapolsky is an amazing lecturer! Thank you, Professor, and thank you, Stanford, for sharing!

[@Gravija1980]

OMG Thank you SO much, Stanford University! I'm glad I can listen and learn and not pay $30,000 a year. Thank you thank you

[@iwersonsch5131]

"There is a whole world of examples showing that everything I just said is wrong, but for our purposes, everything I just said is right." I love biology.

[@mizrahiking3598]

I’m addicted to these lectures. Kudos to Stanford for making it publicly available.

[@amandaandbug4914]

I have been watching his lectures for fun. I am taking a course this Fall in molecular genetics and thought I'd prep by watching some videos on it. I happened to search for molecular genetics and the first video that pops up is by Dr. Sapolsky. Thank you youtube!!!

[@alkismavridis1]

The thing explained at 1:08:30 is actually code reusability. Reminds me of functions in programming 😄

[@4philipp]

I was thinking coding too. First was a hard drive directory. All fragmented.

[@marthak1618]

I'm officially hooked on this course - I've just watched the first 4 straight through and really need to take a break on it, but it's addictive. I particularly enjoyed getting a bit more perspective on the "controversy" around Steven J. Gould. I read a ton of his popular essays early in my lie and found it eye opening.Then I became aware he was dismissed by some in the scientific community but never quite understood while. It sounds as if that may have been resolved and it is now appropriate to look at both the time sequence approaches when seeking understanding. (Perhaps this gets more definitive later in the course.)

[@orangeandwater1538]

I'm starting to change my mind about the course that I wanted to take in College, since I'm getting fond of Mr. Sapolsky's lectures.

[@Summer-uq1vr]

i will never see or hear the simile 'like a glove' again without mentaly replaying the sound of a lecture hall of depressed young adults disappointedly muttering the last word😂😂 love to hear it

[@JB-lu7vz]

Amazingly lucid lecture on a very complex subject. But I can't help but thinking this genius, while talking in terms we all can understand, there is a whirlpool of organic chemistry formulas racing through his head simultaneously.

[@MythisisMAD]

I really wonder how different his lecture would be today, 11 years out.

[@88Grabarz]

I'm studing pedagogics and psychology and I think... That I need to learn more about epigenetics! :D Thanks for this videos!

[@fionafiona1146]

I study philosophy (and cultural Anthropology), aiming at vocational experimental archeology.... No knowledge is ever unaplicable.

[@mrjonno]

Bookmarked for now. I watched these lectures about 12 years ago. I looked for what I was hoping to understand - confirmation bias. Now taking notes and following up. Much to expand upon.

[@terenceharrison2508]

Thanks for the courses your university puts out on the web. It's opened my eyes to new horizons.

[@Gorgiewave]

These lectures are wonderful, full of enthusiasm, full of humour and explain everything clearly. I think he "gets" just about anything and everything.

[@poobumweefat]

his beard is so fluffy, would never need a neck pillow on a plane

[@simratkaurdhillon7776]

Absolutely blew my mind away! I have learned more from this 90 minute lecture than I have from all my genetics classes combined! It all now clicks and makes sense.

[@jomc20]

Among all the dross and misinformation on the internet these lectures are a refreshing oasis of sanity and intelligent thought.

[@augustsbautra]

"Puberty: Sometimes you get acne, sometimes you get a penis." Great stuff! :D

[@flopimus]

Thank you for posting a humorous comment and not some grandstanding self edifying statement about how technically something said wasn't correct

[@juliadulger9801]

it was good ahahah

[@mattcoyte8632]

Wow. I'm loving these lectures so much. This stuff has blown me away. I'm am now more fascinated and astounded by evolution than ever before. Thank you Stanford and thank you Robert Sapolsky. I will continue with this series.

[@gino9094]

I love just replaying this in the background as ambient learning

[@andreamaffa5515]

1:10:29 "You can find any pattern you want to any level of precision you want as long as you're prepared to ignore enough data." mattparker

[@4philipp]

That’s quite true. The importance however is not the pattern but the solution you develop from observing it.

[@thomasmoser9671]

Nice lectures! There is a small mistake at ca 19:45: it is always the last/third (NOT the second) nucleotide of a codon that, when exchanged for a different nucleotide, does (often) not change the amino acid it is coding for.

[@HClipsIndustrialComplex]

You are right, i am studying molecular biology atm. Was just going to comment this :)

[@aangdorje6669]

I am thankful for the professor as it cleared my doubt of prescription factors while I was studying A-levels. One thing that surprisingly came up to me was how our environment is more important than our genetics when he was talking about Epigenetics.

[@maurice5726]

I feel like he is a God in a human form to teach us knowledge and wisdom for free anonymously

[@sasa30]

THank you Stanford and RObert Sapolsky, this is just fascinating. Spread the knowledge! Big Up from SLovakia

[@Melik565]

I just started my Winter break for medical school after an intense bout of finals...and I'm spending it watching a lecture series on evolutionary biology for pleasure. What is wrong with me?

[@sn-7754]

LoL bro i watched it in 1 week before my 1 st year med school uni exama and since then i watched it 8-9 times and i am in halfway of my second year its natural we cant ignore data. Eneways med scince is mess. Its just jack of all master of none kinda since but i agree its tough .

[@marjoryrainey5761]

I don't know but you make it sound funny!

[@room9podcast657]

These effin lectures are mind-blowing. Extremely grateful that this guy (me) , who probably only graduated high school because his siblings died, is able to watch content such as this.

[@davidwilkie9551]

"If-then contingencies", is the computational biologists way of using the QM-TIME, mathematical singularity-duality, of frequency-probability shape shifting the numerical multiples of unit vector. Ie it's Quantum Chemistry and "probably" one of the best lecture-presentations of advancing the concepts of hierarchical complexity across all science.

[@cacurazi]

I also love the fact that he gives us so many interesting and real life examples to back up his theory. Just amazing!

[@user-ez8mn5ig8m]

whoa, I just can't stop watching his lectures. I can't work, I can't do chores, I'm frickin addicted!

[@fa2589]

THE LAST FEW QS!!! I WAS THINKING OF IT!!! This is the first time it ever happened!! Usually when I think of qs in lectures the drs never have an answer for it, or an unsatisfactory answers, but this is the first time, a professor voiced the EXACT same question Ive been thinking about in epigentics.. wow.. I wish I could meet Sapolsky 🥺🥺 stanford is sooo lucky to have him!! Its not fair 😭😭😭😭 I never knew epigenetics was a thing!!!! I was soo mindblown multiple times during this entire lecture!!! Wow.. is this what real teaching is???

[@TheAIEpiphany]

And the best thing is once you add this pile of neurons that we call brain, even the actual external environment doesn't matter as much as our interpretation of it. The same external event can map to completely different internal worlds which will in turn lead to completely different gene experessions.

[@ZigSputnik]

These days we call it 'transitions'. Interesting that it was wasn't the word to use nine years ago, and having tried 'transfers' and 'transmits' he settles on 'jumps ship'!

[@amug5456]

My eyes and ears are wide open ... As this amazing professor is not only obviously knowledgeable but also quite eloquent!🙏🙏 Thankyou SIR

[@robertpietraru1939]

This the kind of content KZbin needs to promote more

[@cindysalablanca3327]

First time watching this and never looked at something like this before but called mutations before it was brought up, this professor is very explanatory and clear...

[@jamescantu6500]

Never made it as a poor man, couldn't make it as a blind man stealing... BUT I'm privileged to have lectures like this to enrich my mind without cost of a tuition 🙃

[@lesliestevens3387]

I need an update of this course....how much has changed for the past 10 years?

[@impossibleexperiments]

This is better than watching a movie. You have me hooked Mr. Sapolski.

[@qwertydog9795]

I did mediocre in high school biology, but somehow the way this guy explains stuff makes so much sense.

[@jasonnitz2078]

His lectures are great for those that are trying to learn. I wonder how his tests are. He does a great job of illustrating the fact that nothing in phsychology is unidimensional, but that makes test taking difficult. With nothing being black and white, what would a multiple choice question look like? I'd be terrified to answer an essay question. I would love to see a sample test for him.

[@Summer-uq1vr]

would probably die with an american style essay😂

[@Mandakins347]

I would think it would be an essay weighted format with some terms to define or provide an example of as well as identifying key figures and their contribution to the science.

[@TheShyama1234AcousticBunny]

I'm a computer sci student on his 4th video on behaviour evolution 😂... what a professor wish I had this person as my programming professor.

[@darthdonkulous1810]

I hope the students realize bjustbhow fortunate they are to have such an fantastic teacher. This professor, he just enthralls you and keeps you interested. It's almost like you don't realise you are actually learning! I wish I had had the opportunity these students had. At least we have these videos!

[@ying4628]

thank you standford, thank you for the amazing course, thank you youtube, thank you to the amazing people out there sharing knowledge.

[@Diagnoc]

Inaccuracy at 19:35 in an otherwise excellent lecture: the letter of the triplet that tends not to change the aminoacid is at the last (third) position, not the middle one.

[@kimberly25christinesmith72]

What are the triplets. That's what I don't get.

[@SenseiBerial]

@@kimberly25christinesmith72 Genetic information in DNA is coded by four "letters": A,C,T,G. Each one of them represents a specific compound from the family of nitrogenous bases. Three nitrogenous bases one after another is a triplet. So, three bases code for one amino acid. A larger sequence of nitrogenous bases will code for a certain number of amino acids, which together create a polypeptide chain, which - after it folds - becomes a fully-fledged protein :)

[@venusmarierojas]

Agree

[@humbertoochoa1777]

Yup, wobble!

[@hansongnaily]

Thanks for the corrections

[@julkiewicz]

It's fascinating how DNA is in many ways similar to an artificially created computer program. Modularity (as in RNA splicing), segments dedicated to instructions (on and off switches), segments dedicated to data (the sequences actually coding proteins), the fact that there are many more instructions than data segments. Of course, the two domains, are also very different in other ways - very uncommon for programs to be tolerant of even the slightest changes to the coding. In a way seems that humans independently discovered some of the useful solutions to the fundamental problem of how to program a complex control system in a robust and efficient way.

[@4philipp]

Are programs intolerant to changes? Isn’t that the whole basis of machine learning and AI to be tolerant and variable instead of static?

[@frostbyte8843]

9th Grade and wanted to be a biologist since I was 4. Thanks for posting these :) Finally narrowed it down to either pursue marine biology or horticulture!

[@gms6299]

I truly love his lectures. I wish all my instructors were like Bob