Ep. 79 - Evolutionary Biology ft. Éamon Callison

Éamon Callison, originally from Denver (elevation ~5280 ft), is finishing his PhD in Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Philosophy of Science at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by an MPhil in Human Evolutionary Studies at the University of Cambridge. His dissertation work has focused on understanding the form and function of the human chest. He is interested in how humans have evolved to breathe during sustained endurance activities, like running, and how selection has affected how we use our ribs to inhale and exhale. To answer these questions, he has measured thoracic motion in humans, dogs, and goats, examined lots of bones, measured human fossils, and worked in the Peruvian Andes (elevation ~14230 ft). We're extremely lucky to have him on the show -- and trust me when I say: he delivers! Sneak Peek Q: What do coyotes, pigeons and humans have in common? A: They're all massively adaptible and flourish in different environments. Q: Why am I a biped? A: UBER Eats didn't exist 7 million years ago. Q: Are there as of yet unknown biological mechanisms that could confer even greater ventilation ability in humans? A: *nerding out so hard you need to take a breather* yes and no... TOPICS & CONCEPTS Breathing & Ventilation Gestation & Birth Evolution of the Thoracic Cage Environment & Culture Natural Selection: Heritability, Variation & Competition The Modern Human Timeline Last Common Ancestors (LCA) & Chimpanzees Forest Fragmentation & The Evolution of Bipedality Energy Expenditure The Treasured Chest Paleontology Funnel vs. Barrel The Expensive Tissue Hypothesis Shape vs. Function The Costovertebral Joint: Curvature = Motion Goats on Treadmills Vacuums & Negative Pressure A Visceral Piston Sprinters & Weight-LIfters Pump-Handle vs. Bucket-Handle High-Altitude Adaptations & The Peruvian Quechua Highlights of Grad School /// SOCIALS /// CLOSING REMARKS Episode Art Background Photo Credit: Jesse Orrico Does free will exist? Maybe. Regardless, please share your cherished feedback with me at [email protected]! Liking the show? Drop us a juicy 5-star rating or a written review on Apple Podcasts! Want to support the show? Save your $$$ and support us by Following & Subscribing on: Spotify, Facebook, Instagram & Twitter! Episode Art by Me and Nino Liverani & Rishi Ragunathan on Unsplash