Colloquium

Speaker: Martin Nowak (Harvard)

Title: The mathematics of evolution

Abstract: All living systems are guided by evolutionary dynamics. Evolution is a search process which occurs in populations of reproducing individuals. The three fundamental forces of evolution are mutation, selection and cooperation. I will present basic ideas in the mathematical description of evolutionary dynamics, including quasi-species theory, evolutionary game theory, and evolutionary graph theory. I will discuss specific problems such as origin of life, emergence of complexity, mechanisms of cooperation, evolution of cancer and how to overcome resistance to targeted therapy.