Radical Plasticity in Animals | Michael Levin

[@iestynne]

Unbelievable stuff. His talk with Lex Fridman was the single most interesting podcast I've ever listened to. These Planaria seem to hold endless secrets. I always found morphological development incredibly interesting, but listening to Michael Levin showed me it was an order of magnitude more interesting than I had thought. Wish I could rewind to college and study that instead of computer science! Planaria apparently are chock full of genetic mutations yet are somehow completely impervious to them, which seems like it must relate to their regenerative abilities. And this new barium observation seems like a really great hint as to what is going on. Maybe the regenerative surface (at the boundary of where the head used to be) is generating billions of cells with unique genetic permutations, and those that survive (assuming the right pattern is found before resources are depleted) then reconstitute the head.

[@margueriteoreilly2168]

Haven't tune in .....in ages ....always good fun

[@SEMF]

Always good to have you!

[@ronanclark2129]

This is the most exciting information I've seen since the announcement of super smash bros ultimate with the inkling trailer, dude

[@SEMF]

That's quite the comparison, the gaming culture reference is appreciated!

[@forho2]

So how do you permanently kill the worm should the need arise?

[@SEMF]

Probably via heavy morphological disruption or chemical disruption.

[@cosmichappening1712]

Sounds like epigenetic adaptation, the process of speciation in which the phenotype of a species in terms of its physical appearance and behavior gradually changes overtime due to certain genes in the DNA of its descendants being switched off (methylated) or switched on (demethylated) and others being turned-down (acetylated) or turned-up (deacetylated) in terms of their level of expression, in response to changes in its environment which include factors such as the climate, diet, exposure to chemical and electromagnetic pollutants, and physical and mental stressors. The DNA sequence inherited by the new species from its ancestral species changes very little throughout the entire process of speciation: It is mostly the expression of the genes that are affected by the epigenetic modifications which are accumulated throughout the generations. Recent research indicates that the epigenetic markers of the genes to be methylated and demethylated, and acetylated and deacetylated, are encoded by small RNA's which are passed on to descendants through the gametes (sperm and ova): So you are literally what your ancestor's ate. If the environment of the ancestral species is restored to its original status or the new species is restored to the original environment of its ancestral species, then overtime, the descendants of the new species will revert back to the phenotype of its ancestral species in terms of its physical appearance and behavior. An example of the phenotype of a species changing dramatically within its life-time due to epigenetics while its DNA sequence remains relatively stable, is the Monarch butterfly which transforms from egg, to larvae (caterpillar), to pupa (chrysalis), and finally to fully-fledged winged adult butterfly.

[@SEMF]

Interesting thoughts!

[@dvvinever]

Just thinking outloud. Curious if there are any biochemical communications within animals that could impact gene expression in gametes and future offspring (like a reaction to certain predators) which lead to some genes being turned on or off like a genetic memory. Is it possible that a multigenerational epigenetic process exists that could either be temporary if the environmental stimuli was later removed, or become a permanent inheritable trait after a number of generations being exposed to the same or similar conditions? Is there a good source of research that shows relative changes (how fast changes are occurring) in different species over a given period of time in both their respective phenotypes and genotypes? There are examples of species existing today that look very similar to their fossilized ancestors from millions of years ago and then there are species that changed significantly on much shorter timescales. Are there genes at play that restrict changes and other genes that accelerate changes that lead to speciation or other profound physiological changes? Is their a tradeoff between genetic stability and genetic flexibility, and do some species get genetically locked into extinction like larger more complex animals versus smaller ones?

[@SEMF]

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts! Those are very interesting ideas, I am sure many people on our community would like to engage with them. You can join here: semf.org.es/participate/join.html

[@iceyjo]

I made a theory on this topic years ago that every living creature has ALL the adaptation and evolution built into its DNA (Suitcase). When epigenetic stressors show up we reach in the suitcase and adapt. Every creature does this at different speeds. Some survive and some do not but mutation is a lesser effect and we are all equipped with every type of adaptation.

[@SEMF]

That's an intriguing analogy.

[@MichaelHarrisIreland]

It's magic. It is from our view point as the audience looking at the magician. We don't know how he did it. And we all think we can guess, but it always a million times more simple. But only after we've found out. We have not found out yet. All the species are still a mystery. ....from Ireland.

[@SEMF]

It does look like magic to us indeed! Thanks for watching from Ireland!

[@AdamHMortimer]

This guy is a true mad scientist!

[@jeremybozarth6682]

I know this podcast is 2 weeks old and I apologize for not being present during the original lecture from the brilliant mind that have grown to not only respect but to look up to as sort of a hero, Mr Levin sir what you do is changing the entire game and peeking through the cracks to catch a glimpse of the actual board it's really been played on this while tone that has been relatively invisible to the majority of the world until now. I have one question say the moment and it is a simple however much more profound one than it may seem(at least so I have come to believe) for Mr Levin that I would have loved to have asked if his presence. I want to know that if in human embryo development the order of operations, I.E. The construction of the individual pieces of the final product are predefined in every embryo as step by step first to last? More or less does it seem that the construction of the fetus is done price by piece in a specific order or has it been sporadic in a sense of section/various sub-sections? Please if possible could he explain the details of order as he has identified them or would he postulate a completely adherent randomness is taking place at various subsets or whatnot?

[@SEMF]

Thanks for your comment! We will invite Michael Levin to future SEMF events, so keep an eye on future materials we upload.

[@CJ_102]

Probably all other possibilities were prevented by the barium.

[@SEMF]

Quite likely yes.

[@anthonyrepetto3474]

4:23 - "How do they navigate this transcriptional space to solve these kinds of problems?" I mused a solution three years ago, wrote "Biological Teleology" about it - essentially, we know biology has quantum-entangled processes, as well as utilizing quantum pathing to avoid billions of dead-ends (photosynthesis, as I recall, sends the ion to the right receptor in a random walk that *shouldn't* happen without the same fundamental path-finding used in quantum computing). If "Retro-causality" is the case (an interpretation in physics which is seeing a modest revival) then the events of the future can constrain the possible paths that the present can take; future causes past. In such a universe, with Darwin still in operation, we should expect life to utilize quanta of data from the future to dodge their own extinction!

[@SEMF]

This is a very interesting line of thought! When considered rigorously, possible quantum-related effects on causality (i.e. entanglement) may be relevant for some biological processes. Do you have some links to resources in this direction?

[@kdaustin]

When the planaria are in a barium solution, why is it their heads [only] that explode?

[@SEMF]

That's a good question actually!

[@della5431]

Very interesting 👌

[@bradsillasen1972]

Couldn't the apparent barium adaptation have been triggered by its effect rather than itself directly? To put it differently, the biology is responding to the problem of potassium optimally which may be, or has been, a factor in the organism's evolutionary past.

[@SEMF]

That's a relevant observation.

[@frun]

Plasticity = quantum scattering?

[@SEMF]

What do you mean? Can you elaborate?

[@frun]

@@SEMF I'm wondering if a parallel could be drawn between creation of particles and growth of new neurons. In de Broglie double solution theory particles are represented by solitons, following definite trajectories.

[@SEMF]

@@frun That's certainly an interesting analogy, how do you imagine it will develop in detail?

[@frun]

@@SEMF As for the particles i'm certain they are a part of the Indra's net - fractal in nature. It can be seen from the standpoint of hydrodynamic quantum analog perspective. As for the analogy - it's just a pure speculation.

[@bradsillasen1972]

Little green men in flying saucers wouldn't shock me like this!

[@SEMF]

Great way to put it!

[@margueriteoreilly2168]

Imagine having an eye on ur tail....if you had a tail....Dont start me Pondering

[@SEMF]

That's right!

[@margueriteoreilly2168]

Is this self Cloning 🤔 wow Belfast Ireland 🇮🇪 😎

[@SEMF]

Could be indeed!

[@margueriteoreilly2168]

@@SEMF Omg...my brain 🧠 went on overload watching. I sometimes think who's controlling the Atoms ⚛️ If there is self intelligence Controlling these guys to grow new heads and adopt to environment... What do you think is out in the Universe in the Macro element. . You know what I mean.. Hopefully.. Ones the size of Universe The other a dot I am dyslexic. ... I know how them evolving worms 🪱 feel Belfast Ireland 🇮🇪 😎

[@SEMF]

@@margueriteoreilly2168 Michael's work does that! Thanks for your comment.

[@margueriteoreilly2168]

@@SEMF I am very interested in the repair of Neurons. As my son was Serverly Autistic and non verbal until age of 9 half June 2019. Hes now reduced symptoms and speaking Some how along the way I have gain knowledge of we fix the Electrical and Chemical signals By protecting the Schwann Cells Myelin Sheath, Dentrits able to have the ions to synapses the Axon terminal With the proper protiens That cross the BBB Astrocyle Cells are the key to feeding the Neurons IMO....I Hypothesis, Just like Hypothesis It's all about the Soils having Health Microorganisms to give our foods the Nutrition To turn the Michondria on in our Cells.. I do really enjoy Research, I am on a Mission 20 to 24 percent of Northern Ireland children have Autism . Trying to help parents is another issue.. My Ego wants a Degree PhD My spirit comes from an Environment Where its the people in our Communities first.. I do enjoy.....being able to have a creative mind with Oranelles... Bacteria and the Magentic force is for my Retirement Thanks so much for the chat

[@margueriteoreilly2168]

@@SEMF Yes Michael's work is quite cool He has a way of making it sound really easy Like he's having fun Wondering and Pondering Then getting unexpected results