• Biology as its own metaphor (Ep 119)

  • Apr 4 2024
  • Length: 1 hr and 13 mins
  • Podcast
Biology as its own metaphor (Ep 119) cover art

Biology as its own metaphor (Ep 119)

Listen for free

View show details

  • Summary

  • At what levels does causation happen in biology? Are metaphors useful for understanding biology?

    In this episode, we talk with Phil Ball, a science writer who was also an editor for the journal Nature for over 20 years. Phil has written over 25 books, but our conversation focuses on his most recent: “How Life Works: A User’s Guide to the New Biology.” In the book, Phil covers a wide-range of topics from cells to proteins to biological agency, and makes the argument that traditional ideas and simplified metaphors in biology often don’t hold up. We talk with Phil about the concept of the selfish gene and unpack what it actually means and when it’s useful. Then we dive into the paradox of how multicellular organisms are composed of multiple levels of agency, yet are complex agents themselves. Phil also discusses the biomedical implications of thinking about cancer as one in many possible states that cells can inhabit across a landscape.


    Art by Keating Shahmehri. Find a transcript of this episode on our website.

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bigbiology/support
    Show More Show Less
Show More Show Less

What listeners say about Biology as its own metaphor (Ep 119)

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com.au reviews

Amazon Reviews
No Reviews are Available
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.