Evolutionary medicine

Evolutionary medicine or Darwinian medicine is a perspective on medicine derived through applying evolutionary theory.

Humans, (as well as any other species) are adapted by evolution to live in particular environments. In other words, we thrive best under certain conditions as to a variety of environmental factors, including social and nutritional factors. There are many differences between the Stone Age environment we are adapted to and the industrialized environment of today. While many of these differences may have a positive impact on health and quality of life, some have a negative impact.

At the same time, our parasites and pathogens have co-evolved with our bodies and immune systems. Evolutionary medicine views the evolutionary arms races between the body and disease from a Darwinian point of view, and proposes treatments and public health policies based on that analysis.

A major developer of this field is Dr. Paul W. Ewald.

Bibliography

• Randolph M. Nesse and George C. Williams (1996) Why we get sick: The new science of Darwinian medicine ISBN 0679746749
• Wenda Trevathan, James J. McKenna, and Euclid O. Smith Evolutionary medicine ISBN 0195103564
• LeGrand EK, Brown CC. Darwinian medicine: applications of evolutionary biology for veterinarians. Can Vet J. 2002 Jul;43(7):556-9. PMID 12125190 full text

See also

• Environment of evolutionary adaptedness

External links

• http://www.people.virginia.edu/~rjh9u/darwmed.html
• http://www.chester.ac.uk/~sjlewis/DM/
• Smith JG Jr. Darwinian (evolutionary) medicine. editorial, South Med J. 1996 Oct;89(10):1028-30. TOC PMID 8865805