Evolution's Ache: The Knee Story

Dive into the world of evolution with Harvard's Professor Terence D. Capellini as he unravels the mystery of why humans, with all our cool traits like opposable thumbs, also have a knack for developing unique diseases like knee osteoarthritis. In his captivating talk, When Evolution Hurts, he explores how our evolutionary leap to two-legged walking has its drawbacks, affecting 250 million people globally. It's a journey through time, genetics, and the human skeleton that might make you rethink your next run!

Unraveling the Past, Shaping the Future

Evolution isn't just about how we came to walk on two legs or why we have opposable thumbs. It’s deeply intertwined with the diseases that affect us today, like knee osteoarthritis, which impacts millions worldwide. Imagine, the very steps that led us to stand upright are linked to a condition that can make every step painful in later life. This connection between our evolutionary journey and modern health challenges is not only fascinating but also crucial for developing future treatments. By understanding the evolutionary tweaks in our anatomy, scientists are on the brink of discovering ways to prevent or alleviate conditions that are currently considered inevitable parts of aging. This exploration could mean a future where diseases like osteoarthritis are no longer a given, making this topic incredibly relevant to you. After all, who knows? Some of you might be the future scientists making these groundbreaking discoveries.