The Health Past Of Mummies: Evolutionary Medicine Insights For Human Diseases Now

Ira Pastor, ideaXme exponential health ambassador, interviews Professor Dr. Frank Rühli, Director of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine and on the Medical Faculty of University of Zurich, and Founding Director, Chair, Full Professor of Evolutionary Medicine.

Ira Pastor Comments:

Famous prominent Russian-American geneticist and evolutionary biologist, Theodosius Dobzhansky, stated in a 1973 essay that “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." When one applies this principle to medical research, it suggests that if you study only the proximal causes of health and disease (pathophysiology), you get a limited picture, and such dynamics could be better understood within an evolutionary framework. While traditional biomedical research is often concerned with pathophysiology, it is the relatively new science of evolutionary medicine that seeks to link human pathology with our past, present, and future evolutionary trajectories. Combining the study of proximal and distal reasons underpinning medical disorders yields a deeper understanding that may help to improve the ways diseases are screened for, treated, or prevented.

Professor Dr. Frank Rühli:

Professor Dr. Frank Rühli, is Director of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine and on the Medical Faculty of University of Zurich, and Founding Director, Chair, Full Professor of Evolutionary Medicine. In addition to being the director of the institute he is also Head of the Paleopathology and Mummy Studies Group, as well as Head of the Museum‚ Medical Collection and Human Remains Group. Prof. Dr. Rühli studied Medicine at the University of Zurich and did Postgraduate Research to undertake a PhD at the Biological Anthropology and Comparative Anatomy Research Unit, Anatomical Sciences, University of Adelaide (Australia). He has a broad research domain including - Evolutionary Medicine, Paleopathology / Disease Evolution, Microevolution of Anatomical Norm Variations and Pathologies / Clinical Anatomy, Diagnostic Imaging of Ancient Mummies, as well as the biological standard of living and state of health of Swiss Armed Forces. He is Associated Editor, Editor and Editor–in-Chief of seven peer-reviewed journals: Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, Journal of Evolutionary Medicine, Homo - Journal of Comparative Human Biology, Journal of Biological and Clinical Anthropology, Yearbook of Mummy Studies, and Swiss Review of Military and Disaster Medicine.

On this fascinating show we will hear from Dr. Ruhli:

About his background and how he developed an interest in science, medicine, and the unique intersection with the study of evolutionary biology. The principle of "Micro-Evolution" and the fact that humans (Homo-Sapiens) "evolve" every day. His unique study of human mummies and application towards understanding our health "past." Evolutionary medicine insights for human diseases such metabolic disorders (including hypercholesterinemia and diabetes) and drug addiction. Thoughts on future human evolutionary trajectories. Thoughts on evolutionary medicine connection to ageing processes.

Credits: Ira Pastor interview video, text, and audio. Follow Ira Pastor on Twitter:@IraSamuelPastor If you liked this interview, be sure to check out ourinterview exploring the human-animal connection for health and wellness!

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