After Turkey thought,

This week marked the 154th anniversary of Darwin’s publication of the Origin of the Species to explain speciation and the development of higher animals. With the development of the more complex biological systems of higher animals comes the potential for complex disease states. Additionally with modern exposure to toxic chemicals, air pollutants, manufactured food makes these diseases into epidemics, and national health concerns. Over the years Darwinian evolution's entry into the social arena has become controversial and has been used to explain more than speciation.

Darwinian evolution is now emerging back on the scientific scene in various capacities of bio-medical research. Evolutionary explanations are now being used to explain the variable factors leading to diseases as complex as cancer, obesity, and diabetes. This brings interesting questions for further investigation:

To what diseases may Darwinian evolution be realistically applied to for understanding of the disease’s etiology? What qualities of these diseases make them applicable to an evolutionary framework?

Additionally, how limiting is the insight evolution brings into understanding diseases for the actual crafting of clinical therapies or crafting of policy?

Lastly, did Darwin intend for his theory to be instrumental in explaining the origin of the diseases for a species, not just the species itself?

All opinions welcomed,

Enjoy the holidays,

Michael