Series
AY 2011
Arts and Sciences

Biological Evolution of Figure and Function - Chance or Necessity (Global Focus on Knowledge)

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#Life Sciences & Medicine
#Space & Physics
#Environment
#Food Science, Agriculture & Fisheries
#生物の「かたち」と進化の謎
#生命科学
#進化
#進化論
#生物学
#内部共生
#医療
#免疫学
#食料
#臨床試験
#ゲノム
#Official UTokyo Courses (OCW)
#Arts and Sciences
Organisms are exquisitely made. For example, it is a mystery how small organisms such as insects can control sophisticated movements. Because insects have such a sophisticated structure, many people have an overwhelming desire to assume that a transcendent being like God was responsible for their design and creation. However, is it really the case? Can we be satisfied with organisms that currently exist on the Earth? Are organisms really made in such a perfect and sophisticated manner? Ideal organisms can be made in a much more sophisticated manner, can’t they? If that is the case, can they be re-designed? In this lecture series, we will present the true nature of organisms, the evolution of which has been strongly governed by chance, and introduce biological concepts to explore it.

Content List

Blueprint of Life Covered with Patches

1:21
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#1 Blueprint of Life Covered with Patches

It is said that organisms are exquisitely made; however, the evolution of organisms as a consequence of a series of chances is not exquisite. We hope that students will be able to explain the reality of organisms to others after completing this thirteen-lecture series. This first lecture will be an overall introduction to this lecture series through the presentation of the outline to help student…

Lecturer | Hirokazu Tsukaya
1:21
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Is Evolution Advancement?―History of Life Filled with Natural Selection and Genetic Drift

1:27
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#4 Is Evolution Advancement?―History of Life Filled with Natural Selection and Genetic Drift

Evolution is not always a process in which only superior beings can survive. Two lecturers will discuss the adaptation of organisms and various factors that impose restrictions on this adaptation. The focus will be on the concept that evolution is inevitably driven by natural selection and that it is randomly induced by genetic drift.

Lecturer | Shin-ichi Morinaga, Hirokazu Tsukaya
1:27
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Biological Evolution Driven by Symbiosis

1:15
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#5 Symbiosis, Evolution, and Biodiversity

Many organisms allow special microorganisms to live within their bodies or cells. A host organism sometimes cannot live without such partner microorganisms or sometimes changes its characteristics depending on its partner microorganisms. The phenomenon of these two types of organisms behaving like a single organism is common. What kinds of new biofunctions will be produced from symbiosis? What is…

Lecturer | Takema Fukatsu
1:15
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1:23
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#6 Endosymbiosis of Insects and Microorganisms: Mechanism of a Common Destiny

Many organisms allow special microorganisms to live within their bodies or cells. A host organism sometimes cannot live without such partner microorganisms or sometimes changes its characteristics depending on its partner microorganisms. The phenomenon of these two types of organisms behaving like a single organism is common. What kinds of new biofunctions will be produced from symbiosis? What is…

Lecturer | Takema Fukatsu
1:23
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00:56
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#7 Chance and Necessity in Biological Evolution: Discussion with Naruya Saitou

Many organisms allow special microorganisms to live within their bodies or cells. A host organism sometimes cannot live without such partner microorganisms or sometimes changes its characteristics depending on its partner microorganisms. The phenomenon of these two types of organisms behaving like a single organism is common. What kinds of new biofunctions will be produced from symbiosis? What is…

Lecturer | Takema Fukatsu
00:56
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What is Immunity? How does Immunity Cause Disease?

1:20
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#8 What is Immunity? How does Immunity Cause Disease?

The immune system protects the human body from foreign enemies such as microorganisms. The immune system has an amazing ability to protect an individual窶冱 body by recognizing a limitless number of foreign enemies that the individual has never encountered. However, the immune system is not perfect. How does immunity cause disease? Chance, a subject of this lecture series, contributes not only to…

Lecturer | Kazuhiko Yamamoto
1:20
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How is the Figure of a Plant Determined?

1:01
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#9 How is the Figure of a Plant Determined?― Figure that a Human has Selected

Evolutionary consequence of plants in the natural world will be reviewed. The selection of strange plants -crop and garden plants- by humans will also be covered.

Lecturer | Hirokazu Tsukaya
1:01
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1:17
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#10 How is the Figure of a Plant Determined?― Figure that has been Made

Evolutionary consequence of plants in the natural world will be reviewed. The selection of strange plants -crop and garden plants- by humans will also be covered.

Lecturer | Hirokazu Tsukaya
1:17
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Chance and Necessity in Medical Research

1:29
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#11 Chance and Necessity in Medical Research

The primary purpose of medical research is to elucidate the necessity of life and disease. However, therapeutics that have been developed based on the achievements of medical research are often not effective. Thus, statistical analyses are required to investigate birth, aging, disease, and death. This lecture will cover the combination of an understanding of the mechanisms of life and disease wit…

Lecturer | Ryozo Nagai
1:29
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Emergence of New Biological Evolution Utilizing Computers

1:18
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#12 Genomic Science has Produced an Ultra-Selfish Gene

The essence of life is information. Genetic information, which continues evolving by repeating copies and selections, is the truth of life. This concept is also called the selfish gene. During the last 3.8 billion years, genetic information has been evolving within biological units such as RNA and DNA by repeating copies and selections. Recent technological revolutions in genome science have made…

Lecturer | Tetsuro Toyota
1:18
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1:10
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#13 Beginning of the new evolution using computer technology

The essence of life is information. Genetic information, which continues evolving by repeating copies and selections, is the truth of life. This concept is also called the selfish gene. During the last 3.8 billion years, genetic information has been evolving within biological units such as RNA and DNA by repeating copies and selections. Recent technological revolutions in genome science have made…

Lecturer | Tetsuro Toyota
1:10
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