#31 Reproductive Conflicts

EvolutionMedicine

Kate Rusk and Joe Alcock discuss the evolutionary reasons why pregnancy is so dangerous, both for fetus and for mother. Genetic conflicts of interest between paternal and maternal genes may give rise to gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Evolutioanry theorist David Haig came up with these ideas, inspired by Robert Trivers "parent offspring conflict." This hypothesis of genetic conflicts in pregnancy has held up over the years, yet these concepts still are not taught in medical school, remarkably. This episode was originally livestreamed on Inertia TV with Kate Rusk. Javier is a prop skeleton, by the way.