MIT Scientist on Unifying Cognition and Biology | Manolis Kellis

Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

In today’s episode, MIT computational biologist Manolis Kellis dive into the hidden patterns linking DNA, evolution, and cognition, exploring a potential unifying theory that bridges biology, AI, and the essence of life.

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LINKS MENTIONED:

- Manolis Kellis’s Lab (website): https://compbio.mit.edu/

- Manolis Kellis’s profile: https://web.mit.edu/manoli/

- Curt’s article on language: https://curtjaimungal.substack.com/p/language-isnt-just-low-resolution

- Chiara Marletto on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uey_mUy1vN0

- Roger Penrose on TOE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGm505TFMbU

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Introduction

02:05 - The Scope of Biological Unification

06:02 - Biology vs. Physics

09:31 - DNA as Life’s Language

13:45 - The Universal Compatibility of DNA

16:55 - Evolutionary Trade-Offs and Isolation

20:17 - Layers of Abstraction in Biology

24:51 - Beyond DNA: The Role of Histones

30:30 - Protein Folding and Function

35:26 - How Cells Interpret DNA Signals

40:24 - The Creativity of Language and Miscommunication

44:55 - Teaching and Simplification

51:09 - Evolution of Cognition and Centralized Decision-Making

57:35 - Vertical vs. Horizontal Evolution

1:04:20 - Specialization and Society’s Role in Evolution

1:08:50 - The Future of Biological Understanding

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#science #sciencepodcast #physics #biology #consciousness

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