The Evolutionary Theory of Cancer | Dr. Charley Lineweaver

The following is a fascinating interview with Dr. Charley Lineweaver, who worked with Paul Davies on his work on cancer which we discuss. Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/clineweaver Topics include: - the evolutionary and atavistic theory of cancer - the incorrectness of the somatic mutation theory of cancer - a novel take on attacking the weakness of cancer - how embryogenesis could be viewed as cells reverting to old memory - the origins of multicellularity - “Cancer cannot do anything new” The atavistic theory of cancer states that cancer cells revert to an old memory they have from billions of years, but forget the new memory. The old memory pertains to constant cell proliferation, which happened as single-celled creatures, and in fact in embryogenesis as well. The new memory pertains to regulating cell proliferation and cells knowing when to stop cellular division. In cancer, it seems like cells forget this new memory and revert to the old memory. This theory has many interesting explanations and predictions which we dive into in the conversation. Enjoy! Episode Show Notes: https://livelongerworld.com/p/clineweaver Find me: https://x.com/aasthajs TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Background in astrobiology 1:53 Evolutionary theory of cancer 6:22 Atavistic model: Cancer cells go back to “original state” 9:50 Atavistic theory vs. Cancer 14:44 Somatic Mutation Theory of Cancer is Wrong 22:36 Disagreement with Mike Levin’s work 24:17 Attack the weakness of cancer 27:45 Vaccine for cancer 38:08 Wound healing and cancer 41:23 Why new genes are more susceptible to damage 45:26 Origins of multicellularity 48:49 Predictions of Atavistic model 53:45 Cancer cells spread 56:52 Cell proliferation, Cancer, Hayflick limit 58:54 Doctors are not trained in evolution AASTHA, LIVE LONGER WORLD: Twitter: https://x.com/aasthajs Newsletter: https://livelongerworld.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aasthajs/ DR. CHARLEY LINEWEAVER: Website: https://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/lineweaver-ch Papers referenced: - Cancer progression as a series of atavistic reversions: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8860064/ - Targeting cancer's weaknesses, not its strengths: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4282648/