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Is evolution predictable? The guest for this podcast is with Simon Conway Morris, Professor of Evolutionary Palaeobiology at the University of Cambridge. Famous for his work on the Cambrian explosion and the concept of evolutionary convergence, Conway Morris has written influential books including Life’s Solution: Inevitable Humans in a Lonely Universe, The Runes of Evolution, and From Extraterrestrials to Animal Minds. In this conversation, we talk about why convergence — the independent evolution of similar traits across unrelated species — offers evidence for deep constraints on the evolution of life. We’ll discuss major evolutionary transitions such as the origin of eukaryotes, sudden explosions of complexity, and the narrow “design space” within which evolution operates. We’ll examine whether traits like intelligence and consciousness are inevitable, why extinction often leads to familiar replacements, and how evolution’s predictability might extend to technology, culture, and even artificial intelligence.As Conway Morris provocatively asks: “If we replayed the tape of life, would we still end up with eyes, wings, minds—and perhaps even something like us?” This episode explores how the physical, chemical, and biological constraints that underpin convergence shape the living world and why, despite its complexity, evolution may be far more predictable than we imagine.
Guest info:Website: https://www.esc.cam.ac.uk/directory/simon-conway-morris
Episode links:
Website: https://reasonwithscience.com/is-evolution-predictable-with-simon-conway-morris
Youtube: https://youtu.be/mYpFJbJsWYA
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7cr8LN9qfsVz40ykFSjC3O?si=bae3fa740cbb4e77
Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-evolution-predictable-with-simon-conway-morris/id1641776894?i=1000721290043
YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=mYpFJbJsWYA&si=7RgntDEFRkqAh9hS
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Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReasonwithScience
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh
Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894
YouTube music: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLila1Jm-QEwKu4xXtNpYFAsSDmPR9mlZB&si=5ehXeZhZ-z181G5b
Timestamps:
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:02:00 – Starting point: evolution’s predictability
00:06:44 – Predictability of evolution & extraterrestrial comparisons
00:10:56 – Deep homology and universal molecular pathways
00:16:30 – Randomness vs probabilities in evolution
00:19:41 – Major evolutionary transitions
00:27:47 – Convergent evolution as a predictive framework
00:42:45 – Laboratory evolution experiments
00:49:57 – Human uniqueness vs other primates
01:02:46 – Dyson spheres & the Fermi paradox
01:06:09 – Human peculiarity and consciousness
01:14:02 – Limits of understanding consciousness
01:27:20 – Challenges in improving science funding
01:38:59 – Mavericks and unpredictability of great ideas
01:42:01 – Theology and spirituality in society
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