This is the conversation with Prof. Alice Hughes. She is working at XTBG  in China. Her work focuses on understanding patterns of biodiversity  and drivers of biodiversity change, with an aim to form more rigorous  & appropriate conservation. In this conversation we discuss about  what is evolution, how it works, why it is important to study, Evolution  vs intelligent design, Artificial breeding, proof of evolution and  complex traits like altruism. 

Guest info:

Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alice-Hughes-3

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliceCHughes

CV: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HNTYjVHFATRbARoPvs-VYFplsy6WSZpJ8CLexygh2IA/edit

Episode links: 

Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/home/what-is-evolution-with-alice-hughes

Youtube: https://youtu.be/N7_TKmEX_Y0

Spotify: 

Apple podcast: 

Google podcast:

Follow Reason with Science: 

Website: https://www.reasonwithscience.com/ 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/reasonwithscience 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5qFLGsPWjL4GAGidmF2nKh 

Apple podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reason-with-science/id1641776894 

Google podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9iMjMyNDZlOC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw

Timestamps: 

00:00:00 Introduction 

00:00:57 Alice's work 

00:03:36 Life beyond humans 

00:05:12 What Evolution by natural selection is? 

00:12:12 Timescale of evolution 

00:17:15 What is genetics and a gene? 

00:22:25 Effects of changes in genes 

00:24:01 Importance of variation in natural selection 

00:25:03 Strangeness of Panda's 

00:26:18 Importance of breeding for evolution 

00:27:39 A walk toward our common ancestor with chimpanzees and bonobos 

00:31:40 Success of humans in passing on their gene pools 

00:35:28 Evolution of religion 

00:38:53 Evolution vs Intelligent design 

00:42:47 Proof of evolution 

00:45:45 Sexual or asexual reproduction 

00:49:37 Altruism  

00:52:45 Homosexuality 

00:56:24 Adoption 

00:58:59 Why it is difficult to understand evolution? 

01:02:23 Material to read 

01:03:17 Thanks!