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Evolution in health and disease: work in progress.
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8106, USA. stephen.stearns@yale.edu
The Quarterly Review of Biology
|January 11, 2002
Summary
Darwinian medicine, applying evolutionary insights, has advanced understanding of diseases like virulence and antibiotic resistance. The field is progressing from hypothesis to rigorous experimental testing, particularly in experimental evolution and functional genomics.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Medical science
- Genomics
Background:
- Darwinian medicine applies evolutionary principles to understand health and disease.
- Since 1991, evolutionary thinking has increasingly influenced medical science.
- Traditional perspectives often overlook evolutionary explanations for medical conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey progress in Darwinian medicine since 1991.
- To highlight novel insights into disease evolution and human adaptation.
- To assess the transition of the field towards experimental rigor.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of research contributions.
- Analysis of evolutionary explanations for various medical phenomena.
- Identification of promising research areas and methodologies.
Main Results:
- Significant progress in understanding virulence, antibiotic resistance, menopause, and genetic diseases.
- New perspectives on reproductive cancers, linked to societal changes.
- Evolutionary insights into mental illness and unexpected consequences of hygiene.
- Emerging applications in nerve/muscle regeneration and functional genomics.
Conclusions:
- Darwinian medicine offers unique and valuable insights into medical science.
- The field is maturing, moving towards experimental validation.
- Experimental evolution and functional genomics are key areas for future rigorous research.