Evolutionary medicine or Darwinian medicine is a perspective on medicine derived through applying evolutionary theory.
Humans (as well as any other species), are adapted by evolution to live in particular environments. In other words, we thrive best under conditions with a particular combination of environmental factors, including social and nutritional factors. There are many differences between the Stone Age environment to which we are adapted and the industrialized environment in which we live today. While many of these differences have a positive impact on health and quality of life, some have a negative impact.
Similarly, our parasites and pathogens have co-evolved with our bodies and immune systems. Evolutionary medicine views the evolutionary arms races between the body and disease from a Darwinian point of view, and proposes treatments and public health policies based on that analysis.
A major developer of this field is Dr. Paul W. Ewald.
Bibliography
See also
External links
- Smith JG Jr. Darwinian (evolutionary) medicine. editorial, South Med J. 1996 Oct;89(10):1028-30. TOC PMID 8865805
The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_medicine under GFDL
