Richard Lenski - Evolution in a Flask

Dr. Stan Maloy talks with Richard Lenski Ph.D., Hannah Professor of Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University, about his research into the evolution of bacteria and the new frontier of digital evolution.Episode 61 of MicrobeWorld Video, filmed at the American Association for the Advancement of Science Meeting in Vancouver, Canada on February 17th, 2012.

Lenski's Long Term Evolution Experiment with E. coli has seen over 50,000 new generations since its inception in 1998. This has led to insights such as how viruses can evolve from types that don't infect humans to ones that do.

Lenski's work with E. coli has also led him into the digital world. Using computers, Lenski can achieve precise, rapid results by manipulating digital organisms. Software that evolves much like bacteria in the real world.

Lenski is optimistic about the future of evolution research. Applying the generalities that have resulted from his studies to any number of other microbial species. He also sees large potential in applying what he's learned to the study of antibiotic resistance and bioengery.

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[tf]

I just love the enthusiasm he has for his research, a truly curious person and I'm so glad he became a scientist!

[ramkumarr]

I think Dr Lenski is being humble. I was building genetic algorithms for fractals in 1999 with Visual Basic and Win 95. (Also the sliding 15 and car race games). And yes, I studied Conways game of life for a long time.. But doing it in reality is the real thing. My colleague used to call digital as toy models as opposed to real models Dr Lenski has created. Just imagine (saw in a sci fi flick) humans start breathing Nitrogen or Carbon Di Oxide or started digesting plastic.🙏🙏👍👍😀

[darknight]

Ah H5N1 Bird flu. I remember when all we had to worry about was H5N1…

Seriously though, I suggest everyone read into this subject as much as they can. It’s absolutely fascinating, and that this professor is so enthusiastic about it tells you everything.

[praxitelispraxitelous]

Amazing experiment! He's already got a number of generations that correlates to millions of years in mammals and it goes exponentially. This in combination with tracing down mutations being technically easier is opening new perspectives on research. Keep up the good work!

[rabzful]

So there bacteria was inhanced but did not evolved after so many generations

[TheDerekB]

Al though the research is interesting, I don't quit find it a breakthrough as they claim. At the end of the day the Mutation of the bacteria only allows the bacteria to adapt to it's environment, thus remaining still bacteria and not really evolving into a more complex organism. This only confirms horizontal evolution which is already scientifically proven. I was hoping this would provide a basis for vertical evolution.

[wildan.danial]

evolution one billion be like

bacteria 1: let make a universe
bacteria 2 : but weneed oxygen
bacteria 3: we are a advance civilization
old bacteria 500: uhh

[NicholasCat]

What's with the lego whale sculpture

[صحّح_إملاءَك]

Listen to dr. Eyad Qunaibi about Lenski experiment.

[chrisgaming]

It's all fun and games until the bacteria evolve to eat through the flask

[mauritube]

This man is completely changing his narrative. His experiment was to debunk evolution.