Darwinian medicine

Darwinian medicine is a way of looking at human health that involves understanding how diseases and health problems can be affected by our environment and by natural selections. It was developed by making a connection between Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, which states that species change over time as they adapt to their environment, and human health.

To put it in simple terms, Darwinian medicine is like understanding how your body has adapted over time to survive and stay healthy in its current environment. For example, if you live in a place with lots of cold weather and flu germs, your body may have adapted to be better able to fight off these illnesses. We see this kind of adaptation all the time – humans living in different parts of the world often have different physical features or body types – like a thinner face or thicker hair – that match the environment they live in.

By studying how our bodies have adapted over time to different environments, Darwinian medicine looks for ways to keep us healthy. For example, researchers might look at how certain foods or exercises help us resist illnesses specific to where we live. By understanding the mechanisms behind how our bodies naturally keep us healthy, we can use strategies to improve our health and protect ourselves from disease.