How Evolution Explains Virulence

THIS IS PART 1 OF A 3 PART SERIES.
Part 1: kzbin.info...
Part 2:kzbin.info...
Part 3: kzbin.info...
Full playlist: • How Evolution Explains...
Virulence refers to the property of a pathogenic organism causing disease symptoms. In other words, if something is virulent, it makes you sick. In this first part of a three-part series lightly modified from portions of my real classes, we're going to look and the evolutionary dynamics around virulence, the hypotheses proposed to explain it, and what are probably the correct explanations.
This is going to be a bit different from my usual fare. We're going to treat this more or less like I'm teaching a class. You know what we won't talk about? Creationism. This is all about one of my favorite dynamics in evolution, how it works, and how we know.
This is just a hobby for me, but if you appreciate what I'm doing and want to say thank you, you can contribute here:
/ creationmyths
paypal.me/crea...
And if you want early access to pre-recorded videos, you can become a channel member: / @creationmyths
If you disagree with anything in this video and want an opportunity to make your case, email me: [e-mail]. I'll give you as much time as you want, and then I'll take the time I want to respond, and we can have a conversation.

[@georgemcmarrinyolfsnouzerw3949]

"Those who got Ebola... good job!" - Dan "Creation" Myths, PhD

[@CreationMyths]

…that sounds bad out of context, doesn’t it?

[@georgemcmarrinyolfsnouzerw3949]

@@CreationMyths just prospecting a future quote mine my good sir

[@jameshall1300]

Isn't there a song like that? "To those who got ebola, we salute you"

[@TheRedVoyager]

I've been reading "The emperor of all maladies: a biography of cancer" over the past few weeks, so I'm looking forward to your lecture on the evolution of cancers.

[@MossyMozart]

I saw the series on PBS a few years ago. It's amazing that some of the experimental procedures they featured back then are now in the medical centers. The Sickle Cell treatment is one.

[@egyptomaniac6453]

I loved this video! I am 40 and living in a small town - opportunities to learn interesting science stuff offline are far between. I appreciate it so much when people make the effort to teach stuff online and for free ❤

[@CreationMyths]

I’m happy to hear that this is beneficial, thank you.

[@jameshall1300]

What types of science are you interested in? I could recommend a few if they're in my general interest areas, since science stuff is pretty much my entire youtube feed. I'm close to 40 myself, and i would have loved to have had all this stuff when i was a kid. 56k Internet and library trips just didn't measure up to what's available now at your fingertips.

[@egyptomaniac6453]

@@jameshall1300 Thank you, that's a great offer actually! well, my special area of interest is Egyptology and Ancient History. I would not be interested in any general, surface level introduction there, but if you have something weird and specific? (I would skip anything titled "Hatshepsut - the female pharaoh!" but "alignment of foundation deposits in Dsr-Dsr.w point to smaller original layout" is click bait for me) Otherwise, I will gladly take any recommendations you have. I like the Yale Courses channel and have looked at Sociology, Philosophy, Biology. Physics and Maths are very cool but my understanding of the basics is poor. If anyone on KZbin can explain math that is beyond simple calculus that would be great. What are your favorites?

[@MossyMozart]

@@egyptomaniac6453 - If you have any interest in the Hominoids (the Ape family to which we belong), the "Gutsick Gibbon" channel is info-packed. The owner, Erika, is a PhD candidate in paleobiology I think it is. She was sent to a creationist school as a kid, but was able to educate herself and leave, so she also does a lot of young Earth creationist debunking, too, but even within that context, she packs her arguments with fossil examples, photos, peer-reviewed papers, and her collection of skull reproductions. She is energetic, enthusiastic, and whip whip-smart. ---------------- "Professor Dave Explains" - Many "Courses" and "Playlists" explain different aspects of science and culture - Chemistry, Calculus, Italian lessons, Anthropology, Philosophy, etc. etc. etc.

[@davidw.9508]

Very informative and great video, and a nice pause from creationist shenanigans. Unfortunately i couldn't make it for the live stream due to time zones. Keep up the good work! :)

[@mepollack]

As someone who got into microbiology and specifically virology because of Ebola and “The Hot Zone”, I personally loved seeing it used as an example to demonstrate a lot of the concepts you’re covering. Great video, covered a lot!

[@CreationMyths]

that's so funny, reading The Hot Zone in college is what got me into viruses.

[@mepollack]

@@CreationMyths sounds like we had some convergence on this one. The book still holds a special place in my heart and I loved the short series they produced for it.

[@seraphonica]

thanks for this, only halfway through and already reminding me of the Andromeda Strain

[@TheRobertCarpenter]

This was awesome. I felt like I learned quite a lot. That's it, I don't have anything witty. Just a good job.

[@CreationMyths]

I appreciate that, thank you.

[@scottduke]

I really appreciate this purely educational video, Dr. Dan! Of course I love the creationism related material stuff too. But any chance to learn about biology is greatly appreciated!

[@andrewp.7626]

Awesome lecture Dr. Dan! I really appreciated this information, it's so interesting to me.

[@CreationMyths]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed.

[@DeconvertedMan]

Thanks so much for teaching this subject! :)

[@CreationMyths]

You're very welcome.

[@morganbenthem9600]

Love your education-based videos! One of the best counters to pseudoscience is learning real science, in my experience, and I'm thrilled to see the educational alongside the debunks. Both are great!

[@CreationMyths]

Thank you.

[@autumnmeep]

Hi Dr. Dan, thank you for this very digestible, informative and interactive format. I unfortunately got here from wanting to check out the third part (how evolution explains cancer) but I still love the „teaching light“ feeling of these topics and this presentation style. :3 I actually got something to write as you explained your outcomes in the beginning and I made notes to compare and reference for my upcoming job transition to a medical dokumentation assistant. The topic of virulence will be taught with a different focus in my courses I imagine but regardless this talk/lesson is something to cross reference later. So thank you again. ;) I hope you have a great time and stay healthy.

[@susansays]

So, so fun! It was really neat to see how you do your real classes. You are the kind of teacher that I really like. I'm looking forward to the next two week's worth and wondering if you have an overarching theme/point to make in the end. Time will tell. Thank you for doing this series.

[@CreationMyths]

Oh don't worry. Check out part 2. Part 3 will only make sense in the context of the first 2 parts. It's REALLY cool.

[@susansays]

@@CreationMyths :-) Neat!

[@silverharloe]

25:33 I first encountered this idea in a science fiction novel where it was summarized as, "a disease is a symbiosis in negotiation" I don't buy it, but I liked the phrasing.

[@gornser]

Love how you structured this

[@CreationMyths]

Thank you

[@Mr.AndersonCrosses]

Is this going to be on the test?

[@dib737]

Great video, Dan! More content like this!

[@CreationMyths]

I'm gonna try to work more stuff like this into the mix.

[@tinedel]

Hmm. Conclusion is vaccination not only prevents getting infected with some rate of success but also artificialy selects for lesser virulence

[@neclark08]

...I can tell when I have an Influenza viral infection, because in addition to the sore throat, runny nose & feeling exhausted with widespread muscle soreness, even the thin layer of scalp supportiing the hair follicles of my Scalp Ache...

[@uncleanunicorn4571]

We need both approaches. So much of creationism is built on a foundation of ignorance, We need more real actionable knowledge circulating.

[@dannyeisenga]

Watched the whole video, am I an evolutionary biologist now? I'll get my PhD in the mail, right?

[@CreationMyths]

It's on its way.

[@biblicallyaccuratecockroach]

You teach for a living, and what do you choose to do with your free time? More teaching, but this time for free 😂 That's one way to know you found the right profession that you do it just 'cuz. About that question on whether extreme phenotypes could both be selected for but not intermediate ones: not parasites, but I heard of at least one species of bird where the males are selected to either be huge and buff or small and dainty, with no room for intermediate forms. The big males need to be big to defend their territory and their females, and slightly smaller males can't compete. BUT, small enough males can pass as females and sneak into enemy camp, and while they may themselves be mated with by the big male they also get the chance to mate with his females, who don't snitch because this way they can have both strong (big male) and smart (small male) children. No room for an average fit guy, they either have to be Arnold Schwarzenegger at the height of his buffness or Link in Gerudo Town.

[@PromptedHawk]

I see you playing Erika's sneaky game.... Using the platform you've built by teaching science in order to teach science, but this time without the infuriating and repeated exposure to creationists. It's downright devious. Is this an example of lowered virulence once transmission becomes more difficult? After all, most of those who would actually listen already have, the only remaining "susceptible" members are curious creationists and other such unicorns.

[@CreationMyths]

BAH you caught me. Here I am just trying to get people into biology. Guilty.

[@JungleJargon]

Evolution is imagined. The cause for existence is always greater than the effect since matter and energy considering they cannot make or direct themselves.

[@a2sbestos768]

Wtf the latter does even mean? In what sense "greater"? Are atomic bombs "lesser" than humans that made them? Are there humans that can run faster than cars they make? You people have a case of brain noodles.

[@CreationMyths]

Nope, i said up front, not the topic. This is your warning. Do your usual nonsense on some other video.

[@XraynPR]

Is your argument still that no species ever changes over time? Whats imagined is your "greater cause" nonsense. Matter and energy absolutely can direct themselves. E.g., gravity.

[@JungleJargon]

@@CreationMyths I was talking about evolution.

[@JungleJargon]

@@XraynPR I never said anything like that.

[@jacksonsneed7689]

Thanks Doc!! This was a lot of fun!! I'm excited for next week's lesson (class? Whatever you're calling it, I dig it!). Seriously though, thank you. This is extremely important, especially right now. Thanks for taking the grifters to task (and yes, of course professional creationists are grifters; they constantly lie and misrepresent, and they do everything they can in order to keep their gullible and undereducated followers from knowledge that isn't vetted and approved by apologist grifters.)