Ideas change everything

An evolutionary perspective on human health and disease

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Lara Durgavich |

TEDxTufts

• March 2019

How does your genetic inheritance, culture and history influence your health? Biological anthropologist Lara Durgavich discusses the field of evolutionary medicine as a gateway to understanding the quirks of human biology -- including why a genetic mutation can sometimes have beneficial effects -- and emphasizes how unraveling your own evolutionary past could glean insights into your current and future health.

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Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

How does your genetic inheritance, culture and history influence your health? Biological anthropologist Lara Durgavich discusses the field of evolutionary medicine as a gateway to understanding the quirks of human biology -- including why a genetic mutation can sometimes have beneficial effects -- and emphasizes how unraveling your own evolutionary past could glean insights into your current and future health.

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxTufts, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Learn more about Tay-Sachs and related diseases and donate to support research.

Donate to support the International Society for Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, which promotes evolutionary medicine education and publishes an open access academic journal.

About the speaker

Biological anthropologist

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Lara Durgavich brings historical context to human biology, sharing the importance of evolutionary medicine in personal life and beyond.

About TEDx

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxTufts, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Learn more about Tay-Sachs and related diseases and donate to support research.

Donate to support the International Society for Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, which promotes evolutionary medicine education and publishes an open access academic journal.