Dr. Michael Levin: Xenobots, Limb Regeneration, and The Power of Cellular Communication

In this episode of the Smarter Not Harder Podcast, our guest Dr. Michael Levin joins our host Dr. Ted Achacoso to give one-cent solutions to life’s $64,000 questions that include:

• Can we unlock the secrets of limb regeneration to revolutionize the future of medicine? 

• How can we harness the power of cellular communication to control cancer growth? 

• What are the ethical and practical implications of creating programmable living machines known as xenobots?

Dr. Michael Levin is an acclaimed American developmental and synthetic biologist at Tufts University. As a Vannevar Bush distinguished professor, Dr. Levin has made a remarkable impact in the field of biology, challenging the limits of our understanding and pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery.

What we discuss:

[00:00] Dr. Michael Levin's groundbreaking research is shaping the future of biology, medicine, and ethics.

[06:25] Bioelectric circuits can be manipulated to grow functioning organs

[17:44] Anatomical homeostasis may be the reason for regeneration of limbs in frogs and salamanders

[33:02] Xenobots challenge our understanding of natural selection

[37:54] Mathematics and geometry have an independent life separate from physical facts of the universe.

[53:03] Understanding diverse spaces where intelligence can function.

[1:03:23] Planarian bioelectric circuits can be rewritten to alter memory and guide regeneration.

[1:18:56] Multicellularity enables cells to work in a different problem space and expand their cognitive light cone.

[1:24:06] Recognizing and relating to diverse intelligences through a framework, tools, and ethical considerations.

[1:34:31] Understanding and studying agency in unfamiliar embodiments is crucial for the future of living with cognitive systems.

[1:39:28] Consider ethics in scientific advancements

[1:50:11] Medical informatics is a process of discovering beyond the wall of knowledge.

Find more from Smarter Not Harder:

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Find out more from Michael Levin:

Website: https://wyss.harvard.edu/team/associate-faculty/michael-levin-ph-d/

Twitter: @drmichaellevin

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