That is the Self? How does a placebo work? Can we train genetic pathways? What is bioelectric memory? What are recent breakthroughs in biology? This and much more in this episode with brilliant Michael Levin.

Michael Levin is a Scientist at Tufts University; his lab studies anatomical and behavioral decision-making at multiple scales of biological, artificial, and hybrid systems. Levin's work is particularly innovative in its use of bioelectric signals - electrical signals that cells use to communicate with each other - to guide the development and regeneration of tissues. By manipulating these signals, Levin has been able to induce the growth of new body parts in animals, such as tails and eyes, and even direct the formation of new organs.

Overall, Michael Levin is a fascinating and pioneering figure in the field of developmental biology, whose work is helping to transform our understanding of how living organisms grow and repair themselves.

Michael´s Website - https://www.drmichaellevin.org/

"A self is a collection of parts that are able to work together towards system-level goals." - Michael Levin

Michael´s Twitter - https://twitter.com/drmichaellevin

Timestamps:

00:00 What does Michael do?

07:00 How do we develop from genes?

13:00 Emergence in biology - Electric circuits

20:00 Biolelectric information in an organism

34:00 Hardware Vs. Software and Evolution

38:30 Morphospace

49:00 Goal-directedness biology

55:00 Placebo and can you train Genetic Pathways?

1:05:00 Robots in physiological space

1:07:00 The Self and Identity

1:15:00 Levels of the self